Amid U.S.-Iran war, Houthi rebels threaten to blockade another key strait
Houthi rebels have announced a blockade of the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait in retaliation for Saudi strikes in Yemen, further escalating regional tensions. This move threatens global energy markets already strained by the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict.
Why it matters
The closure of key maritime chokepoints poses a significant risk to global oil supply chains and energy price stability.
TEL AVIV — The Houthis, a Yemeni Shiite militia which is aligned with Iran, have announced a naval blockade of a key waterway, the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait.
Middle East conflict The U.S.-Iran battle over the Strait of Hormuz raises risks for global waterways In a video statement, a Houthi spokesperson said the blockade was in retaliation for strikes from Saudi Arabia on a major airport in Yemen's capital, Sanaa.
The Houthis have accused Saudi Arabia of hitting the airport while an Iranian official was traveling through it earlier this month.
Bab Al-Mandeb connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, and it lets Saudi Arabia, one of the biggest oil producers in the world, get millions of barrels of oil a day out to the open ocean for export.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in