Houthis seize control of Bab el-Mandeb Strait in Yemen
Yemen's Houthi movement has taken control of the strategically vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key route for international shipping and oil transport. Observers warn the move could push global oil prices even higher.
Yemen's Houthi forces have seized control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a waterway of major strategic importance for international shipping. Located between the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, the strait serves as a passage toward the Suez Canal.
The takeover comes as another critical waterway for oil transport, the Strait of Hormuz, has already been closed for several months due to the war between the United States and Iran.
Impact on oil markets
With the Bab el-Mandeb Strait now closed off, Saudi Arabia — the world's largest oil producer — will no longer be able to export oil via the Red Sea route. Observers note that this development could drive global oil prices even higher.
