Houthi Blockade on Saudi Arabia Returns Bab el-Mandeb to Centre Stage

Houthi Blockade on Saudi Arabia Returns Bab el-Mandeb to Centre Stage

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which forms the southern gateway to the Suez Canal, has returned to the geopolitical spotlight after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia. The blockade has been announced in response to Saudi Arabia's involvement in the conflict in Yemen. The Houthi movement has warned that Saudi-linked vessels transiting the strategic waterway would be targeted. The blockade has significant implications for global trade and security, as the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a critical chokepoint for international shipping. The Houthi movement's announcement has been met with concern by international leaders, who have called for restraint and de-escalation in the region.