Yemen’s Houthi group claimed Saturday that eight Saudi oil tankers were forced to reroute from the Bab al-Mandab Strait to the Cape of Good Hope because of its maritime blockade.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said on US social media company X that the diversion is part of the group’s blockade imposed on Saudi Arabian vessels.

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia and 13 other countries announced the creation of a multinational maritime defense coalition aimed at safeguarding freedom of navigation, international trade and energy supply routes in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The move comes amid escalating threats to commercial shipping in the Red Sea after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group declared a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia on July 20 and subsequently claimed attacks on Saudi-linked vessels. Riyadh has vowed to protect maritime traffic and respond to threats against international navigation.

“Despite their personal sacrifices, they never sought to claim credit for the democratic movement.”