Iran Instructs Houthi Rebels to Prepare Closure of Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Intelligence reports from Reuters indicate that Iran has formally requested the Houthi movement in Yemen to prepare for the closure of the Bab el-Mandeb shipping route. This directive is intended as a response to potential U.S. strikes on Iranian power infrastructure. Houthi forces have reportedly completed preparations to deploy missiles and drones overlooking the gateway to the Red Sea. The move risks disrupting the world's two primary oil export routes simultaneously, deepening the global energy crisis.
Date: July 18, 2026
Location: Yemen
Conflict: US-Iran Conflict
Category: naval
Severity: CRITICAL
Source: The Business Standard