Saudi Arabia seeks international coalition to protect Red Sea shipping from Houthis, sources say

Saudi Arabia is seeking to ​build an international coalition to protect shipping ‌in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks, two people familiar with the deliberations said on Wednesday.

The composition of ​the coalition has not yet been finalised ​and is being discussed with dozens of ⁠countries, the sources said.

The Iran-aligned Houthis said on July 20 they would impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the ​Red Sea in response to what they described ​as a Saudi siege on Yemen, an allegation Riyadh has ‌denied.

Since ⁠then, the Houthis said they have launched attacks on Saudi vessels in the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia has responded with air strikes on ​what it said ​were Houthi ⁠military facilities at Yemen's Hodeidah port used to threaten commercial shipping.

The ​blockade has opened a new front against ​the ⁠United States and its allies in the wider Iran war, expanding attacks on tankers carrying energy and ⁠other ​supplies to waters beyond the ​Gulf and pushing oil prices higher.