Iranian Newspaper: Sanaa’s Counter-Blockade Shifts Confrontation to the Heart of Saudi Arabia’s Oil and Maritime Sectors
Recent Yemeni operations mark a shift in the deterrence equation, placing Saudi oil exports and shipping routes under mounting challenges.
NYN | Reports and Analyses
The Iranian newspaper Tehran News reported that recent operations by the Yemeni Armed Forces targeting sites inside Saudi Arabia mark a strategic shift in the course of the conflict. The paper noted that Sanaa has transitioned from a defensive posture to establishing a new deterrence equation aimed at the energy and shipping sectors, following its announcement of a naval blockade on vessels linked to the Kingdom.
The report emphasized that this development reflects a change in the nature of the confrontation after years of the blockade imposed on Yemen, pointing out that the new formula operates on the principle of “blockade for blockade.”
Criticism of Saudi Airstrikes and the Futility of the Blockade
According to the report, recent Saudi airstrikes targeting telecommunication facilities and coastal sites in Yemen reflect—in the paper’s view—a failure to achieve desired military objectives, despite operations continuing for years.
It added that the air, sea, and land blockade imposed on Yemen over the past twelve years has caused extensive damage to infrastructure and worsened the humanitarian crisis. However, it noted that the blockade failed to prevent Sanaa from developing its military capabilities and deterrent measures.
Targeting Energy Infrastructure and Oil Export Routes
The newspaper explained that the Yemeni response included targeting vital Aramco facilities in Jizan and Yanbu. It considered the selection of these locations to carry strategic significance due to their connection to Saudi oil exports via the Red Sea.
It noted that expanding the scope of operations to the city of Yanbu, alongside sustained pressure on Jizan, indicates that the confrontation has shifted to target the Saudi energy infrastructure as part of an effort to impact the oil export routes on which Riyadh relies.
The Naval Blockade and the “Blockade for Blockade” Equation
The report linked military operations to the Yemeni Armed Forces’ announcement of a naval blockade on Saudi vessels. It clarified that the decision targets ships linked to the Kingdom or bound for its ports, without—according to the paper—closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait to general international maritime trade.
The paper stressed that this step represents an extension of the “blockade for blockade” equation, through which Sanaa seeks to project the pressures it experienced in recent years back onto the opposing side.
Shift in the Deterrence Balance
The newspaper concluded its report by stating that the blockade policy pursued by Saudi Arabia against Yemen has begun to backfire on the Kingdom itself, as the confrontation moves directly into the energy and shipping sectors. It noted that recent developments represent a shift in the balance of deterrence that could pose growing challenges to Saudi Arabia’s oil exports and maritime traffic.
