Why X Suspended Houthi Military Spokesman Yahya Saree — and What It Means for the Regional Crisis

Who is Yahya Saree?

Saree is a Yemeni military officer who has served as the primary military spokesman for the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) since 2018, when he was appointed as the official spokesperson for the Supreme Political Council-led Yemeni Armed Forces . Before the suspension, his X account had amassed more than 121,000 followers . Saree also maintains active channels on Telegram, Al-Masirah TV, and YouTube .

His statements are broadcast primarily via Al-Masirah TV, his Telegram channel, and his social media accounts . When his X account has been unavailable, he has shifted to Telegram and other platforms to continue issuing statements .

Saree's role in broadcasting Houthi attacks

Saree used his X account as one of the Houthis' main channels for publishing official statements and claiming responsibility for attacks . He regularly announced:

• Missile and drone strikes on vessels in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb strait
• Attacks on Saudi infrastructure, including Abha International Airport
• Operations against Saudi oil tankers under the group's self-imposed maritime navigation ban on Saudi vessels
• Strikes against Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces near Marib

In recent weeks, Saree claimed a missile strike on the Saudi oil tanker NCC GHAZAL, citing the group's declared "maritime navigation ban" on Saudi vessels . He also announced attacks on two other Saudi oil tankers, Encelia and Layla, for violating the same ban .

A recurring enforcement pattern

This is not the first time X has taken action against Saree's account. His account was previously suspended in April 2025 . At that time, reports noted that he maintained a backup account that remained active, and Houthi officials were working to have his main account reinstated .

X's stated enforcement policy — as documented in its terms of service reports — includes suspending accounts belonging to "terrorist organizations, perpetrators of violent attacks, and/or individuals who affiliate with and promote their illicit activities" . The platform also suspends users for "targeted violent threats" and other harmful violations .

Beyond Saree, X has taken broader enforcement action against Houthi-affiliated accounts. In March 2024, X removed the blue verification badge from several Houthi leaders' accounts, including Saree's English and Arabic accounts, Hussein Al-Ezzi, and the Al-Masirah Channel . In February 2024, following the U.S. redesignation of the Houthis as a terrorist organization, X suspended several accounts affiliated with the group .

Context: The escalating regional crisis

The suspension occurred against the backdrop of a severe escalation in Houthi military operations:

The deadly Bab el-Mandeb strike (August 11, 2026). Houthi rebels struck the Egyptian-owned cargo vessel Tihamah in the Bab el-Mandeb strait with a double-tap missile attack . Four crew members — three Pakistanis and one Indonesian — were killed in the initial strike . Two Yemeni rescuers from the government-allied National Resistance Forces were killed by a second missile while conducting search-and-rescue operations, bringing the death toll to six . Ten people were injured . This was the first known fatalities from Houthi attacks on commercial shipping since the broader Iran conflict escalated on February 28 .

Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure. In July 2026, Houthis fired missiles at Abha International Airport in southern Saudi Arabia, breaking years of relative calm along the border .

Declared naval blockade on Saudi Arabia. The Houthis imposed a "maritime navigation ban" targeting Saudi vessels, which Saree publicly enforced through his announcements . This blockade extends the group's wider campaign against Red Sea shipping.

Broader U.S.-Iran maritime tensions. On the same day as the deadly Bab el-Mandeb strike, U.S. forces fired on a container ship attempting to break Iran's port blockade in the Gulf of Oman, underscoring the wider Iran-linked maritime crisis .

X's suspension of Saree's account on August 13, 2026 — just two days after the first fatal Houthi strike on Red Sea shipping — reflects a broader campaign to disrupt the group's ability to broadcast military operations in real time, even as the Houthis escalate their attacks against Saudi Arabia and international commercial shipping.

Note on Saudi Arabia's naval coalition: In response to the escalating Houthi maritime campaign, Saudi Arabia reportedly moved to form a 14-nation naval coalition to protect Red Sea shipping lanes. However, the specific source for this detail was not retrieved during the research process, so this claim cannot be confirmed from the available evidence.