India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday, 24 July reaffirmed that freedom of navigation through international waterways must be upheld under international law, as Yemen's Houthi group escalated its maritime campaign against Saudi Arabia-linked shipping in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The statement came amid rising concern over disruptions to one of the world's most critical shipping chokepoints.

India's Position on Maritime Freedom

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, speaking at a media briefing in New Delhi, stressed that commercial shipping rights must be protected. 'When it comes to the passage of commercial shipping or right of navigation, we continue to stress that it's important that right of navigation be allowed through international waterways as per international law,' Jaiswal said. He added that the issue bears directly on 'global shipping, economic security of the world and the energy security of the global community.'

Jaiswal's remarks came in direct response to a question about the Bab al-Mandab Strait situation and Houthi threats to block vessels linked to Saudi Arabia. India, as a major maritime trading nation and energy importer, has a significant stake in the strait's stability — it is a key corridor for Gulf oil exports heading to Asian markets.

Houthis Deny Full Strait Closure

Also on Friday, Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the Houthi group's chief negotiator and spokesperson, pushed back against reports that the strait had been shut entirely. In a statement posted on social media platform X, Abdul-Salam said: 'There is no closure of Bab al-Mandab as some are promoting,' describing the measures as 'only affecting the Saudi side.'

According to Abdul-Salam, the maritime restrictions are a direct response to what the group characterises as a Saudi-led 'siege' on Houthi-controlled Yemeni territories, and are intended to guarantee 'the security, sovereignty and independence of the Yemeni people.'

Houthi Maritime Ban and Tanker Strikes

On Monday, the Houthi group formally announced a maritime ban on Saudi-linked shipping, citing what it called Riyadh's prolonged blockade of areas under Houthi control. By Thursday, the group said it had carried out a military operation targeting two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, claiming both vessels had violated the embargo.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea, in a statement aired by the group's Al-Masirah television, said forces targeted the tankers — identified as ENCELIA and LAYLA — using 'ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones.' Sarea claimed the strikes caused fires to engulf both vessels and had 'successfully achieved their objectives.' These claims have not been independently verified.

Why the Bab al-Mandab Strait Matters

The Bab al-Mandab Strait, a narrow waterway between Yemen and Djibouti, connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is one of the world's busiest maritime corridors. Roughly 6 million barrels of oil transit the strait daily, making any disruption a direct threat to global energy supply chains. This is not the first time Houthi activity has rattled shipping in the region — the group has previously targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea, drawing international condemnation and naval responses.

With India's energy imports significantly reliant on Gulf crude, and with Indian-flagged and Indian-crewed vessels regularly transiting the corridor, New Delhi's reiteration of navigation rights carries both diplomatic and economic weight. How the situation evolves in the coming days will be closely watched by shipping insurers, energy markets, and regional powers alike.