Houthi Officials Threaten Closure of Bab el-Mandeb Strait Over Regional Tensions
A senior Houthi official issued a formal warning on April 11, 2026, threatening to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if Gulf nations join U.S. or Israeli military operations against Iran. Deputy Information Minister Mohammed Mansour stated that the group would target regional shipping if the 'aggression' escalated. This threat follows the resumption of Houthi missile strikes against Israel in late March and highlights the continued risk to global maritime trade in the Red Sea as regional proxy conflicts intensify.