Amid U.S.-Iran war, Houthi rebels threaten to blockade another key strait

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. -Iran war, Houthi rebels threaten to blockade another key strait July 21, 20266:21 AM ET Emily Feng Yemeni supporters of the Iran-backed Houthi movement gather during a rally against what the group says are restrictions imposed by the Saudi-led coalition on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, in Sanaa on July 17, 2026. Mohammed Huwais/ via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Mohammed Huwais/ via Getty Images TEL AVIV — The Houthis, a Yemeni Shiite militia which is aligned with Iran, have announced a naval blockade of a key waterway, the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait. Middle East conflict The U.

-Iran battle over the Strait of Hormuz raises risks for global waterways In a video statement, a Houthi spokesperson said the blockade was in retaliation for strikes from Saudi Arabia on a major airport in Yemen's capital, Sanaa. The Houthis have accused Saudi Arabia of hitting the airport while an Iranian official was traveling through it earlier this month. Bab Al-Mandeb connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, and it lets Saudi Arabia, one of the biggest oil producers in the world, get millions of barrels of oil a day out to the open ocean for export.

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Sponsor Message Bab Al-Mandeb has become even more important for Saudi Arabia now that the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed off by the U. Any potential Houthi blockade of the strait would rattle energy markets already shaken by the war in Iran and would likely raise energy prices further. The blockade would also test Gulf states' resolve to counter Iran and Iran-aligned groups in the Middle East, including the Houthis.

Saudi Arabia condemned the blockade in a statement. The Houthis said in response that the Saudis were a "criminal" regime. The Houthi rebels are designated by the U.

State Department as a terrorist group. Middle East conflict U. and Iran launch new strikes after 3 U.

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service members are killed Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates have been exploring the idea of building new oil pipelines or expanding existing ones to move oil overland instead of by sea, but those pipelines could take years to build. and Iran trade fire – again The U. and Iran traded fire for a 10th consecutive round of strikes overnight.

Central Command said late Monday it struck Iranian military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems. Iran's state news agency IRNA said it targeted three U. bases hosting American military personnel and equipment in Kuwait last night.

Sponsor Message The fighting is now at its most intense level since the war began in February. The Pentagon on Monday confirmed the identities of two service members killed by Iranian attacks in northern Jordan last Friday and said another still remains missing. The Pentagon later disclosed a third service member was killed in Iraq.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.