US embassy refutes Houthis’ Yemen blockade claims, highlights siege on Taiz

Résumé détaillé

US embassy says goods still flowing into Yemeni areas under Houthi control, while accusing the rebels of besieging Taiz.

The US Embassy in Yemen has pushed back against Houthi claims that a Saudi-led blockade is restricting access to the country.

Khaled Wolfsberg, spokesperson for the US Embassy in Yemen, released an Arabic-language video on the mission’s official Instagram account on Tuesday evening, arguing that goods are still flowing into areas of Yemen under Houthi control.

The Houthis, an armed group also known as Ansar Allah (Arabic for Supporters of God), captured the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014. They have since seized large parts of western and northern Yemen. An offensive on coastal areas in September this year saw the rebel group take the port city of Mocha.

Wolfsberg presented operational figures showing that 272 commercial ships successfully unloaded their cargo at the ports of Hodeidah, as-Salif, and Ras Isa – all under Houthi control – between January and September 2026.

This data directly counters the Houthi narrative that Saudi Arabia and its allies have enacted a full-scale siege of Yemen’s Red Sea ports, preventing aid from reaching civilians.

The US claims align with operational analyses released by the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen, which monitors and facilitates commercial shipping to the region.

Throughout the first nine months of 2026, the UN mechanism regularly cleared dozens of vessels each month to sail to the Houthi-controlled ports.

The UN data confirms that 272 vessels sailed to these ports during this period. The maritime traffic peaked in January and March, with 34 vessels sailing each month. Even during slower periods, such as July, 25 vessels successfully made the journey.

These ships delivered millions of tonnes of essential cargo, primarily food. March recorded the highest volume of food deliveries, with more than 737,000 tonnes discharged. January also saw significant deliveries, with nearly 630,000 tonnes of food reaching the ports.

Début de l'article, extrait de Al Jazeera. Pour lire la suite, ouvrez l'article chez le média.