Saudi Arabia announced Thursday the formation of a 14-nation maritime defense alliance to protect shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, as attacks by Yemen's Houthi militia escalate against commercial vessels and energy infrastructure in the Red Sea corridor.

The Defense Ministry in Riyadh said the coalition aims to "increase maritime security, preserve freedom of navigation, secure international trade routes and energy supply routes, and protect common maritime interests" across the Bab al-Mandab, Red Sea, and Gulf of Aden. The announcement followed a meeting attended by representatives from 43 states and a European Union delegation.

"Saudi Arabia is acting to secure important energy and trade corridors in response to the growing threat posed by the Houthi militia," Moammar al-Eriani, information minister for Yemen's internationally recognized government, said Wednesday.

The alliance includes Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Djibouti, Turkey, and Yemen among its founding members. Saudi Arabia confirmed that 14 countries have formally pledged support, though the ministry did not identify all participants. Invitations to the Riyadh meeting went to 51 states and organizations.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait, a narrow chokepoint between Yemen, Eritrea, and Djibouti, ranks among the world's most critical maritime trade routes. Its strategic importance has grown since Iran's effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz forced Saudi Arabia to reroute much of its oil exports through the Red Sea corridor.

Al-Eriani accused the Houthis of working with Tehran to develop a system for charging passage fees to ships transiting the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab. The militia has not denied the claim.

The coalition's formation follows a series of Houthi strikes on Saudi oil infrastructure since the group announced a naval blockade against the kingdom last week. On Monday, Houthi forces reported launching drone attacks on "sensitive hubs" for oil transport near Yanbu, a key Red Sea port where Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline terminates. The pipeline transports crude oil from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea, allowing Saudi exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the Defense Ministry, the coalition is designed to deter further attacks and ensure uninterrupted energy and commerce flows through Bab al-Mandab. The ministry emphasized "shared responsibility" among regional and international partners to maintain maritime security.

ANCPI hacker claims financial motive, apologizes for disruption as systems remain offline

Can Europe deter Russia's shadow war with Cold War tools

The Houthi militia, which controls large portions of northern Yemen, has received military and logistical support from Iran throughout Yemen's civil war. The group's recent threats to impose shipping fees and block Red Sea passage represent a new escalation against Saudi interests.

Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government against the Houthi insurgency since 2015. Fighting between Saudi-led forces and the Houthis largely subsided following a UN-brokered ceasefire in 2022, but recent attacks threaten to unravel that truce.

Turkey's inclusion marks a notable geographic expansion of the coalition, reflecting broader maritime security concerns among Red Sea and Gulf states. Djibouti's participation highlight local stakes, given its location on the strait's western shore.

The Defense Ministry did not detail the alliance's operational structure or rules of engagement, nor specify whether the coalition would seek a UN mandate or operate under existing regional security frameworks.

The European Union attended the Riyadh meeting but has not formally joined the alliance. Representatives from 43 countries participated in discussions, though only 14 have pledged support so far.

Iran has denied direct involvement in recent attacks but has publicly backed the Houthis' efforts to challenge Saudi dominance in the region. Tehran's role in supporting the militia remains a central concern for Saudi Arabia and its partners.

The East-West pipeline's function as a Strait of Hormuz bypass has made Yanbu and the Red Sea route increasingly critical for Saudi oil exports, now the focal point of the coalition's security efforts.

The United Nations continues to call for restraint and renewed dialogue in Yemen. The 2022 ceasefire had brought relative calm to the Red Sea corridor before recent Houthi attacks resumed in late 2023, prompting the coalition's formation.