Saudi Arabia hosts Chiefs of Staff from 43 countries, EU to discuss Riyadh’s initiative to establish a Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance

Do not involve your countries in a war that is not yours — Yemeni Armed Forces issues warning to the Saudi Coalition members 

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Friday hosted a meeting of Chiefs of Staff and representatives from 43 countries and the European Union to discuss Riyadh’s initiative to establish a Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance.

The Saudi initiative aims to protect international maritime routes and counter threats targeting global commercial shipping and navigation.

The meeting discussed the alliance’s founding arrangements, including Saudi Arabia serving as the founding and leading nation.

Fourteen participating countries, including Egypt and Turkey, expressed support for the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance initiative

Yemeni Armed Forces issues warning to the Saudi Coalition members 

To the countries that have declared their alliance with the Saudi enemy and whose names were mentioned within the coalition and aggression against Yemen:

We clarify that the decision to impose a transit ban only included Saudi ships, in response to the brutal aggression that targeted our country.

Accordingly, we warn these countries against engaging in or participating in protecting Saudi ships or supporting their operations, and against dragging their countries into a confrontation that has nothing to do with them.

Any direct participation in protecting or supporting Saudi ships, as stated in the statement, will render the ships of those countries subject to the expansion of the ban decision to include them.

This is a final warning and a clear message: Do not involve your countries in a war that is not yours.

The Red Sea is not an open arena for those who wish to escalate, and any new step will be met with corresponding steps.

Houthis considering imposing transit fees on commercial ships passing through Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Yemen's Houthis are seriously considering imposing transit fees on commercial ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with Chinese vessels expected to be exempt, according to Reuters.

The proposal reportedly follows discussions with Iranian officials and comes days after the Houthis announced a naval blockade targeting Saudi Arabia.

Intelligence suggests the Houthis are formalizing control over Bab el-Mandeb — creating a permanent toll system modeled on Iran's Hormuz framework, with fees potentially paid in stablecoins or Chinese Yuan.

Yemen's Houthis Struck Saudi Arabia's Southern Yanbu, uses to Bypass Strait of Hormuz by the Kingdom

Yemen's Houthis have Struck Saudi Arabia's Southern Yanbu Terminal, which the Kingdom uses to Bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

Fuel Depots can be seen Burning from King Fahd Road 

Saudi Arabia still has the Northern Yanbu Terminal for its Oil Exports

In another report, Saudi Arabia’s air defenses intercepted and destroyed drones coming from Iraq, the Kingdom’s defense ministry says in a statement


The drones attempted to target oil facilities in Saudi Arabia’s eastern region and Riyadh, according to the ministry


The ministry says the drones were launched from Iraqi territory by Iran-backed militias

Houthis have claimed responsibility for the drones  attacks.

On Monday, Yemen's Houthis announce multiple drone strikes on several targets and sensitive points in the supply and transport of crude oil from eastern Saudi Arabia to the Yanbu port, in response to Saudi drones breaching Yemeni airspace, per Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree.

This comes after today’s drone attacks on the Abqaiq oil refinery.

Both Jordan and Qatar have separately condemned the drone attacks against the Saudi Kingdom.

Qatar on Monday strongly condemned attempted drone attacks targeting oil facilities in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province and Riyadh regions, saying the drones were launched from Iraqi territory.

The attacks were a “flagrant violation of Saudi sovereignty and a threat to its security and stability and the safety of its lands,” Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry also described them as a breach of international law, the UN Charter and the principles of good neighborliness.

It said Qatar stood in full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and supported all legitimate measures taken by the kingdom to protect its sovereignty, security and territory.

According to a report, over the past 48 hours, the Yemeni armed forces have struck three Saudi oil tankers." 

Sixteen Saudi vessels had turned back, unable to transit the Houthi-controlled Bab al-Mandab Strait in the past six days, beginning July 20, it added

"Since Yemen imposed the blockade, not a single Saudi oil tanker has passed through the Strait in either direction," the source stated

The ban on Saudi shipping, imposed on July 20, remains in effect, according to the source

The Houthis announced the blockade in response to Saudi control over Yemen's airspace for 12 years, and after Sanaa airport was shelled as an Iranian plane carrying a Houthi delegation was landing