After Hormuz, Bab el Mandeb strait also under threat: Houthis warn of blockade

Yemen's Houthi rebels have escalated regional tensions by threatening to blockade the Bab el Mandeb strait, a vital 32-kilometer-wide passage connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. This announcement signals a new phase in the conflict, particularly after recent hostilities between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.

The threat comes in the wake of Saudi-backed Yemeni government airstrikes on the capital, Sanaa, aimed at preventing a Houthi delegation's plane from landing. The delegation was returning from the funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The Houthis retaliated with missile attacks on a Saudi airport, accusing Riyadh of violating a four-year truce.

In response, the Houthis declared they would block all ships carrying Saudi cargo through the Bab el Mandeb, a strategic chokepoint between Yemen and the Horn of Africa. This strait is a critical artery for global commerce, handling a significant portion of European imports and exports, including oil, gas, and containerized goods from Asia.

While less critical than the Strait of Hormuz, a Bab el Mandeb blockade could have severe consequences for world trade. The vulnerability of this route was highlighted in March 2021 when a container ship blocked the Suez Canal for days. This is not the first time the Houthis have targeted maritime traffic; they attacked numerous vessels in the Red Sea after the Gaza war began in October 2023, disrupting trade for months.

The potential economic fallout could be greater this time, as the threat coincides with existing disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and elevated oil prices. Despite their close ties to Iran, the Houthis had previously limited their actions to verbal support for Iran, but this blockade threat indicates a potential shift in their strategy.