A new threat by Yemen's Houthis could widen the Iran war and put another trade chokepoint at risk

By — Fatma Khaled, Associated Press Fatma Khaled, Associated Press By — Ahmed Al-Haj, Associated Press Ahmed Al-Haj, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/a-new-threat-by-yemens-houthis-could-widen-the-iran-war-and-put-another-trade-chokepoint-at-risk Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter A new threat by Yemen's Houthis could widen the Iran war and put another trade chokepoint at risk World Jul 22, 2026 5:09 PM EDT CAIRO (AP) — A declared blockade of Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthi rebels has the potential to widen the Iran war and further disrupt global oil supplies and international trade. The rebels say they have closed the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi-linked shipping in retaliation for the kingdom's blockade on Yemen and a recent attack on the international airport in Yemen's rebel-held capital, Sanaa. The Houthis claim to have forced six ships to reroute on Tuesday, but there was no independent confirmation. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Bab el-Mandeb, at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, is a vital shipping chokepoint, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Around 12% of the world's trade, including a fourth of global container traffic, passes through the narrows, moving between Europe and Asia via Egypt's Suez Canal. The strait has become even more vital for Saudi oil exports since the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war has severely limited shipping out of the Persian Gulf. READ MORE: U.S. and Iran dig in over control of the Strait of Hormuz The Houthis say they will only stop vessels connected to Saudi Arabia or going in and out of its Red Sea ports. But during a similar blockade announced against Israel over the war in Gaza, the rebels attacked many vessels with little or no connection to that conflict. The threat alone could keep international shippers from using the route. Sporadic attacks could largely block the waterway The Houthis don't control the part of Yemen's coastline along Bab el-Mandeb — that's in the hands of its opponents in the country's civil war. But they hold territory less than 100 kilometers (60 miles) away. Three Houthi officials told the AP on Tuesday that the group has planned for months how to disrupt shipping in the strait. Those plans include the use of naval mines, explosive-laden boats, drones and helicopters to allow fighters to board ships, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to media. READ MORE: Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthis announce a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia They said vessels would first be warned not to cross designated boundaries in the strait. If ships ignore the warnings, the Houthis would resort to military action. In the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has shown that even sporadic attacks on ships can be enough to effective