Houthi top diplomat says no intention to shut down Red Sea shipping, group open to talks
In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Acting Foreign Minister of the Houthi-led administration Abdulwahid Abu Ras said concerns over a potential closure of the Red Sea are being fueled by Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis’ top diplomat said Tuesday that the group has no plans to shut down Red Sea shipping, insisting traffic remains normal despite a decline in vessel movements following the rebels’ recent seizure of the territory around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor via Zoom, Acting Foreign Minister of the Houthi-led administration Abdulwahid Abu Ras said concerns over a potential closure of the Red Sea are unfounded and being fueled by Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis control large swaths of northwestern Yemen and have around 350,000 fighters in their ranks, according to a 2024 United Nations estimate, posing a major challenge to the internationally recognized government and the Saudi-led coalition that supports it.
'Navigation is normal'
