Houthis Threaten to Close Bab al-Mandab Strait, Escalating Middle East Conflict
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militia has announced a 'maritime embargo' closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait to Saudi ships, threatening a key global oil transit route. The strait, through which 10-12% of global maritime trade passes, is a strategic chokepoint linking the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Iran has reportedly urged the Houthis to block all oil tanker traffic, potentially squeezing the global economy and adding complexity to the Middle East conflict. The move follows Saudi airstrikes on Sana'a airport that broke an informal 2022 truce. While analysts question whether the Houthis have full military capability to enforce a complete closure, the announcement alone is expected to disrupt shipping and create uncertainty. The Houthis are described as Iran's partners rather than puppets, using the opportunity to press their own regional ambitions and punish Saudi Arabia.
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