Saudi Arabia has imposed a naval blockade on northern Yemen's Red Sea coast amid its offensive on Houthi fighters in the mountainous region.

A Saudi government adviser said on Wednesday that the blockade was imposed to stop weapons from reaching the fighters, Reuters reported.

The adviser said earlier that Saudi warships were ordered to search suspicious ships sailing near northern Yemen.

Last week, Saudi Arabia launched its offensive against Shia fighters who accuse the kingdom of supporting the Yemeni government in its crackdown on them.

The government launched Operation Scorched Earth in August in an effort to crush the Houthis whom it accuses of seeking to restore an imamate that was overthrown in 1962.

The Houthis dismiss the accusations saying they are seeking to end what they call the government's discriminatory policies against them.

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