Houthis open new front in Iran war: Will Yemeni group block Bab al-Mandeb?

The Houthis, a Yemeni militant group backed by Iran, are threatening to blockade the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a critical chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and one of the world's most vital shipping lanes. Control of the waterway would give the group leverage in the broader Iran conflict and could severely disrupt global trade and commerce. A blockade of the strait—through which roughly 12-15 percent of global maritime traffic typically flows—would likely spike shipping costs, delay goods, and strain supply chains worldwide, affecting everything from energy prices to consumer goods. The threat represents an escalation of Houthi operations, which have already targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea region in recent years. The blockade gambit underscores the geopolitical stakes in Yemen and the Houthis' ability to inflict economic damage far beyond the country's borders.