Yemen in July 2026: the most important developments in security
Yemen in July 2026 saw the end of a two-year truce between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia and the opening of a Red Sea campaign against Saudi shipping and oil sites. The largest development was the Houthi naval blockade of Saudi Arabia. The Houthis declared it on July 20 and July 21, said it covered Saudi ports and oil routes near the Bab al-Mandab strait, and sent the threat to shipping companies by email. By July 22 seven ships had reversed course. On July 23 the Houthis claimed attacks on two Saudi oil tankers, striking one near the strait, and oil rose to around $100 a barrel for the first time since May. On July 24 the Houthis denied closing the strait. Reports on July 16 said Iran had told the Houthis to be ready to block the strait if the United States attacked Iran's power infrastructure.
The truce ended around Sanaa airport. On July 13 forces aligned with Yemen's Defence Ministry struck the Houthi-held airport runway to stop an Iranian plane from landing. The Houthis announced the end of the ceasefire with Saudi Arabia, seized a Red Cross flight, and Yemen's aviation authority closed all airports nationwide. Axios reported that Saudi Arabia had US approval for its strike on the airport. On July 14 the Houthis fired missiles at Saudi Arabia.
Late in the month the fighting reached land. On July 24 the Saudi-led coalition struck Houthi targets in Hodeidah. Between July 25 and 27 the Houthis and Saudi Arabia exchanged fire; the Houthis fired missiles and drones at Saudi oil facilities along the Red Sea and claimed to have downed a Saudi drone. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted drones from Iraq. Red Sea shipping slowed, and Yemen's government said it was ready for escalation. The United States carried out daily strikes on Iran through at least July 24 and reportedly paused them around July 26 and 27.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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