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2026-04-19 18:24:48
[Yemen's Houthi rebels warn of potential closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait due to escalating tensions] Sana'a – Yemen's Houthi rebels warned on the 18th that the strategically vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait could be closed if efforts to achieve peace continue to be obstructed. Houthi senior official Hussein Izi urged US President Trump and his allies on social media on the 18th to "end all actions and policies that hinder peace" and respect the legitimate rights of the Yemeni people. He also stated that if the decision is made to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, "no force can reopen it." This Houthi warning follows Iran's decision on the 18th to again close the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy's public relations department issued a statement on the 18th, stating that due to the US violation of its ceasefire commitments and failure to lift the maritime blockade of Iranian ports and ships, the Strait of Hormuz would be closed from that evening. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, serving as a vital passage connecting the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Indian Ocean. The strait is under the control of the Yemeni Houthi rebels. Data from the US Energy Information Administration shows that before the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran conflict, approximately 12% of global oil shipments passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Since the end of March, the Houthi rebels have been launching missiles and drones at Israel to support their allies in the region's "Arc of Resistance." (Xinhua)
