Houthi rebels in Yemen announced a naval blockade of the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait on Tuesday, citing retaliation for Saudi Arabian airstrikes on the Sanaa international airport. A Houthi spokesperson stated the strikes occurred while an Iranian official was traveling through the facility. Saudi Arabia, which relies on the waterway to export millions of barrels of oil daily, issued a statement condemning the blockade.
The announcement follows the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran. Regional powers including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates have discussed constructing overland pipelines as an alternative to maritime routes, though such projects are estimated to take years to complete. The Bab Al-Mandeb serves as the primary connection between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
In related developments, the U.S. and Iran conducted a 10th round of overnight strikes. U.S. Central Command reported hitting Iranian command centers and missile sites, while Iranian state media claimed to have targeted three U.S. bases in Kuwait. The Pentagon confirmed the deaths of three additional U.S. service members this week, bringing the total American military death toll in the conflict to 17. Iran reports that approximately 3,000 people have died within its borders since the war began in February.