Yemen Forces Eight Saudi Oil Tankers to Reroute via Cape of Good Hope

Yemeni Armed Forces announced that they forced eight Saudi oil tankers to change course and reroute via the Cape of Good Hope, expanding their maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia. The announcement was made by Yemeni military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree on Saturday. He stated that the tankers were forced to alter their route, and that Yemen's Armed Forces would continue the blockade against Saudi Arabia, vowing to reach its ships "wherever we are able."

Saree assured the Yemeni people that the military would spare no effort to lift the siege on the country and reclaim all their rights. Yemen had previously declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia under a "blockade for blockade" principle, in response to the Saudi siege of Sanaa airport.

The development comes as Saudi Arabia announced the formation of a 14-nation coalition to defend shipping lanes in the region. The coalition is aimed at ensuring the security of maritime routes, which have been affected by the ongoing conflict between Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

The Yemeni Armed Forces have been engaged in a conflict with the Saudi-led coalition since 2015, when the coalition intervened in Yemen's civil war. The blockade on Saudi shipping is part of Yemen's broader strategy to pressure the kingdom to lift its own blockade on Yemeni ports and airports.

According to Mehr News Agency, the Yemeni military's statement did not specify the exact location or time when the tankers were forced to change course, but it emphasized that the blockade would continue until Yemen's demands are met. The report added that the Yemeni forces are determined to enforce the blockade despite international efforts to secure shipping lanes.