UAE condemns Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia's Najran region
Synopsis
The UAE has issued its strongest diplomatic rebuke yet as Houthis struck Saudi tankers in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, hit Najran airport with a drone, and signalled yet another 'distinctive' military operation — all within days. The 'blockade-for-blockade' strategy is pushing the Red Sea toward its most dangerous flashpoint in years.
Key Takeaways
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 7 August strongly condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia's Najran region , calling them a violation of sovereignty.
Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree confirmed tanker 'Daisy' was struck by a ballistic missile in the Gulf of Aden and forced to turn back.
A second tanker, 'Wafa' , was targeted off Yanbu on the Saudi Red Sea coast.
On Tuesday , Houthis claimed a drone strike on Najran airport , citing alleged Saudi drone incursions into Yemeni airspace.
The Houthi 'blockade-for-blockade' policy was declared on 20 July , triggering a new cycle of strikes and Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on Yemen.
Security concerns are mounting over the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait , a critical global shipping chokepoint.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday, 7 August strongly condemned a Houthi missile attack on the Najran region of Saudi Arabia, calling it a blatant violation of Saudi sovereignty and a direct threat to the kingdom's security and stability. The condemnation came as the Yemen-based group escalated its declared maritime blockade against Riyadh, with multiple strikes on Saudi-linked vessels and infrastructure within days.
UAE's Official Position
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a formal statement affirming the country's full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and expressing support for all measures Riyadh takes to preserve its security. The ministry described the Houthi attacks as a 'blatant violation' of Saudi sovereignty — language that signals a firm diplomatic stance from Abu Dhabi at a moment of rapidly deteriorating regional security.
Houthi Military Activity This Week
The escalation has been swift. On Tuesday, the Houthi group claimed responsibility for a drone strike on Najran airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia, stating it was a response to alleged Saudi drone incursions into Yemeni airspace. On Wednesday, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced that a Saudi oil tanker identified as 'Daisy' had been struck by a ballistic missile in the Gulf of Aden and 'forced to turn back.' A second tanker, 'Wafa', was also reportedly targeted with ballistic missiles off the coast of Yanbu, a major Saudi Red Sea port city. By Friday, Saree posted on X that a Yemeni Armed Forces statement was expected to announce a 'distinctive military operation,' signalling further escalation.
The 'Blockade-for-Blockade' Strategy
The Houthi attacks are framed within a declared 'blockade-for-blockade' policy. On 20 July, the group announced a maritime ban on Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea, citing what it described as a Saudi blockade on Houthi-held areas of Yemen. Since then, the group has claimed multiple missile and drone strikes on Saudi-linked vessels and energy sites. The Saudi-led coalition, in turn, has resumed airstrikes on what it described as key Houthi military targets inside Yemen.
Regional Security Implications
The renewed hostilities have raised serious concerns over the security of the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait — one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints through which a significant share of global energy trade passes. Analysts warn the escalation risks a broader military confrontation after years of relative calm in Yemen. This is the most concentrated burst of Houthi maritime and aerial attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent memory, and the UAE's unusually direct condemnation underscores the Gulf's collective alarm at the trajectory. With Saree signalling a further 'distinctive' operation, the coming days are likely to be critical for the region's stability.
Point of View
Hitting two tankers, an airport, and now telegraphing a 'distinctive' follow-up. The 'blockade-for-blockade' framing gives the Houthis a legible political narrative that complicates international pressure campaigns. For India, the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait are not abstract — a significant share of India's energy imports and export cargo transits this corridor. Mainstream coverage tends to treat this as a bilateral Saudi-Houthi conflict; the shipping and energy disruption risk is a materially underreported dimension.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the UAE condemn the Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia?
The UAE condemned the Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia's Najran region on 7 August, calling it a blatant violation of Saudi sovereignty and a threat to regional security. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reaffirmed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support for its security measures.
What did the Houthis attack this week?
Within days, the Houthis claimed strikes on two Saudi oil tankers — 'Daisy' in the Gulf of Aden and 'Wafa' off Yanbu in the Red Sea — as well as a drone attack on Najran airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Spokesman Yahya Saree also signalled a further 'distinctive military operation' on Friday.
What is the Houthi 'blockade-for-blockade' policy?
On 20 July, the Houthi group declared a maritime ban on Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea, framing it as a reciprocal response to what it described as a Saudi blockade on Houthi-held areas of Yemen. Since then, the group has claimed multiple missile and drone strikes on Saudi vessels and energy infrastructure.
Why does the Red Sea escalation matter globally?
The Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait are among the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, carrying a large share of global energy trade and cargo. Sustained Houthi attacks on shipping raise the risk of supply disruptions and insurance cost spikes that affect international markets, including India's energy imports.
How has Saudi Arabia responded to the Houthi attacks?
The Saudi-led coalition has resumed airstrikes on what it described as key Houthi military targets inside Yemen in response to the escalating attacks. No further official statement on the specific tanker incidents had been issued at the time of reporting.
