• 2 min de lectura
• 2 min de lectura
The Yemen Houthi rebels, backed by Tehran, clarified that they have not closed the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait and insisted that the announced maritime blockade is exclusively aimed at operations linked to Saudi Arabia. Houthi chief negotiator, Mohamed Abdulsalam, denied any total interruption of the passage on the social network X and specified that the measure responds to the blockade applied by Riyadh against Yemen and its refusal to reach a political agreement described as fair. Abdulsalam sought to reassure international shipping companies by ensuring that the route remains open. The message attempts to appease the rebel group's warnings and growing fears that Bab el-Mandeb will end up restricted like the Strait of Hormuz. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a key global maritime passage, connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. This location makes it the mandatory gateway for the shortest route between Europe and Asia via the Suez Canal. The statements occurred four days after the Houthis announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia. The militia warned that it would outlaw the passage of vessels linked to the kingdom in the waters under its control, under the premise they defined as "blockade for blockade." The announcement marked a sharp escalation in the Red Sea after years of relative calm between the militia and Riyadh, fostered by the United Nations (UN) truce in 2022. Since then, the rebel group warned shipping companies not to transport goods to or from Saudi ports, under threat of attacking vessels that violate the prohibition. The organization also claimed responsibility for attacks against two Saudi Arabia-linked oil tankers in the area, including the recent impact on the vessel Encelia.
