Houthis declare Red Sea safe for shipping except Saudi vessels

Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree announced that Red Sea maritime navigation is safe except for Saudi ships, signaling a partial de-escalation in attacks on commercial traffic. This marks a shift from indiscriminate targeting to a selective ban on Saudi-flagged vessels, though the statement is unverified and operational behavior may differ. The move could ease shipping risk premiums for most carriers while keeping Saudi-linked cargo under threat.