Jerusalem Post: Riyadh Faces Two Options: End the Blockade on Yemen or Face Expanding Escalation in the Red Sea
Israeli newspaper considers the future of tension between Sanaa and Riyadh dependent on Saudi Arabia's decision, amid warnings over the expanding repercussions of the Yemeni ban on navigation and shipping.
NYN | Reports and Analyses
The Israeli newspaper Jerusalem Post stated that Saudi Arabia has reached a crossroads amid renewed escalation with Yemen. It noted that ending the blockade imposed on Yemen might be the option to spare the region further tension, whereas maintaining the status quo could lead to a widening circle of confrontation, particularly in the Red Sea and along shipping routes linked to the Kingdom.
The Newspaper: The Blockade on Yemen Led to a New Deterrence Equation
In an analysis covering the developments of the crisis, the newspaper explained that tension escalated following Sanaa’s protest against the continuation of flight restrictions and the subsequent targeting of Sanaa Airport. The Yemeni Armed Forces responded by announcing a new equation based on the principle that the continuation of the blockade on Yemen would be met with a blockade on Saudi shipping.
It added that these developments brought the crisis between the two sides back to the fore, amidst growing fears over the impact on maritime security and regional trade.
Support for Gaza Transformed Sanaa’s Regional Position
The newspaper touched upon the background of the conflict, noting that the Saudi military intervention in Yemen began in 2015, before the UN-brokered truce in 2022 helped lower the level of military operations. Although the truce officially expired later, an unannounced calm largely persisted.
It suggested that the events of October 7, 2023, marked a turning point in Sanaa’s regional role after its declaration of support for the Gaza Strip. This was followed by operations targeting sites inside Israel, alongside naval operations targeting Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea as part of what Sanaa described as support operations for Gaza.
The newspaper noted that these operations ceased following the ceasefire agreement announced in October 2025.
Future Escalation Hinges on the Saudi Decision
- The Jerusalem Post concluded that the future of the confrontation between Sanaa and Riyadh remains open to several possibilities. It considered the Saudi decision in the coming stage to be the decisive factor between moving to address the root causes of the crisis—foremost among them the blockade—or continuing down a path that could lead to broader escalation and further repercussions for maritime security and trade flows in the region.
