The Houthis Don’t Need to Close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Strangle the Suez Canal By Maximilian Malawista Copyright © 2026 IPS-Inter Press Service. All rights reserved. -

The Houthis Don’t Need to Close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Strangle the Suez Canal By Maximilian Malawista UNITED NATIONS, Jul 24 2026 (IPS) - With regional friction between Iran and the Gulf monarchies escalating, Houthi leadership in Yemen has proclaimed a total maritime blockade against all vessels linked to Saudi shipping. While this declaration does not constitute a verified military obstruction of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, it significantly heightens the risk of volatility at the Red Sea’s southern gateway, potentially severing the primary arterial link to the Suez Canal. https://www.ipsnews.net/2026/07/the-houthis-dont-need-to-close-the-bab-el-mandeb-strait-to-strangle-the-suez-canal/?utm_source=email_marketing&utm_admin=146128&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=US_Plans_to_Restrict_Visas_to_Foreign_Journalists_Come_Under_Fire_Global_AI_Governance_Cannot_Wait_A Copyright © 2026 IPS-Inter Press Service. All rights reserved. -