US Embassy Disputes Houthi Blockade Claims, Points to Taiz Siege

The US Embassy in Yemen has refuted claims made by the Houthi group regarding a blockade restricting access to the country. Khaled Wolfsberg, spokesperson for the US Embassy in Yemen, released a video on the mission’s official Instagram account on Tuesday evening, asserting that goods continue to flow into Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The Houthi group, also known as Ansar Allah, captured the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014 and has since taken control of significant portions of western and northern Yemen, including the port city of Mocha following an offensive in September of this year.

Wolfsberg presented data indicating that 272 commercial ships successfully unloaded cargo at the ports of Hodeidah, as-Salif, and Ras Isa between January and September 2026. This information directly contradicts the Houthi narrative of a full-scale siege on Yemen’s Red Sea ports by Saudi Arabia and its allies. These figures align with analyses from the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen, which monitors and facilitates commercial shipping. The UN mechanism regularly cleared dozens of vessels monthly to these Houthi-controlled ports throughout the first nine months of 2026, with a total of 272 vessels arriving during this period. Maritime traffic saw peaks in January and March, with 34 vessels each month, and even in slower months like July, 25 vessels successfully reached their destinations.

These shipments delivered millions of tonnes of essential cargo, predominantly food. March saw the highest volume of food deliveries, exceeding 737,000 tonnes, followed by nearly 630,000 tonnes in January. August and September also recorded substantial food deliveries of over 511,000 tonnes and 495,000 tonnes, respectively. In addition to bulk shipments, containerized cargo continued to arrive at Hodeidah, with four container vessels unloading 1,231 containers in January and three unloading 851 in March. Although container traffic fluctuated later in the year, particularly after recent fighting, September still saw one vessel discharge 182 containers. Fuel and other cargo also reached the ports, with February recording over 149,000 tonnes of fuel discharged, while September had no fuel deliveries but maintained high volumes of food and other goods.

Despite the flow of goods, the UN has cautioned that recent conflict has exacerbated the humanitarian situation in Yemen, particularly in the besieged city of Taiz. Wolfsberg accused the Houthis of impeding the delivery of food and fuel to hospitals and water stations in Taiz, describing the situation as a genuine siege and attributing localized shortages to the Houthi forces surrounding the area. "The only real blockade is the one cruelly imposed by the militia on Taiz by preventing the entry of food and essential supplies for citizens," Wolfsberg stated.