Houthi Militia Threatens Closure of Bab al-Mandeb Strait
The Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen has threatened to shut down the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime chokepoint, in response to the ongoing U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports. A Houthi spokesperson stated the militia is prepared to use force to block the waterway if military operations against Iran and Lebanon escalate. The threat has triggered a surge in maritime insurance premiums and forced global shipping companies to consider alternative, longer routes via the Panama Canal.