Houthis warn shipping companies against using Saudi Arabian ports

Yemen's Houthi group has sent emails to shipping companies warning them not to use Saudi Arabian ports. The group says it will attack any ship that loads or unloads cargo at Saudi ports. This includes ships from all countries, not only Saudi ones. The port of Yanbu on the Red Sea is specifically named in the warning. Saudi Arabia exports millions of barrels of oil through Yanbu, so the threat could seriously disrupt global oil supplies. The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have already attacked several ships in the Red Sea. A Saudi-led coalition has said it will take steps to protect ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.