Yemen's Houthis threaten closure of Bab al-Mandeb Strait

SANAA -- Yemen's Houthi group warned on Saturday that the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait could be closed.

Houthi official Hussein al-Ezzi made the remarks in a post on X, noting the possibility of measures that would affect one of the world's most critical maritime routes.

"If Sanaa makes the decision to close the Bab al-Mandeb, no force would be able to reopen it," he said.

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, located between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, is a vital shipping corridor connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. A significant portion of global trade, including energy supplies, passes through the narrow waterway.

The Houthi official urged Washington and its allies to "end all actions and policies that stand in the way of peace" and to respect what he described as the legitimate rights of the Yemeni people.

The warning follows Iran's decision on Saturday to reimpose restrictions on maritime traffic in response to the ongoing US naval blockade.