The Houthi movement has threatened to close the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait if tensions between Iran and the United States continue to rise. The warning issued on April 19 2026 marks a significant escalation in regional maritime security risks.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait located between Yemen Djibouti and Eritrea is a vital shipping lane connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Nearly 10% of global maritime trade including oil and natural gas shipments passes through this narrow waterway.
Houthi officials accused the US of escalating military pressure on Iran over its nuclear program and regional activities. The group vowed to block the strait in response to any “hostile action” against Tehran which the Houthis have long supported with weapons and technical assistance.
A closure of Bab el-Mandeb would force ships to take the much longer route around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope driving up shipping costs and insurance premiums significantly. Previous Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea during the Israel-Hamas war disrupted global supply chains for months.
The US Navy’s Fifth Fleet which operates in the region has not yet issued an official response but officials have previously described freedom of navigation in the strait as a “vital national security interest.”
The threat comes as diplomatic efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal remain stalled raising the risk of further confrontation between Tehran and Washington.
