DID Press: Yemeni military and maritime sources say forces aligned with Sanaa have expanded their maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia from the Red Sea to the Arabian Sea following attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities in Jizan, warning that “anything linked to Aramco” could be targeted.
Sources cited by the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar said Yemeni forces have added dozens of strategic targets in Jizan and Najran to their operational list following recent drone strikes on Saudi oil facilities. The sources said the attacks came in response to alleged violations of Yemeni airspace over Saada and Hajjah and form part of a campaign launched two weeks ago.
Yemeni military sources warned that operations in southern Saudi Arabia could intensify in response to increased shelling of border villages in Saada. They said Aramco facilities—including storage tanks, pipelines and export terminals—remain among the potential targets.
The reported maritime blockade in the Red Sea is also continuing, with Yemeni sources claiming that Saudi-flagged oil and commercial vessels have been prevented from passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait. They also reported an increase in vessels carrying cargoes labeled as non-Saudi.
Yemeni forces have further claimed that surveillance of Saudi-linked shipping has been extended into the Arabian Sea and that 10 operations have been conducted against oil tankers accused of violating the blockade.
The reported escalation comes as Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure and maritime trade face heightened security and transportation risks. Recent Reuters reporting has also highlighted disruptions and uncertainty affecting Saudi oil shipments to Asian customers, alongside higher insurance and shipping costs.