The Houthis from the Yemeni Ansar Allah rebel movement have confirmed their readiness to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which separates the Arabian Peninsula from Africa, to international shipping in response to the policies of US President Donald Trump in the region, one of the movement’s leaders, who holds the position of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Houthi-formed government, Hussein al-Ezzi, has stated.

If Sanaa decides to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, neither people nor jinn will be able to open it. Therefore, Trump and those who appease him should immediately put an end to all actions and policies that hinder peace and show the necessary respect for the rights of our people and our country,” he wrote on his page on social media X.

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is a critical global shipping chokepoint, channeling maritime traffic toward the Suez Canal.

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait lies at a critical junction between continents, separating Yemen from Djibouti and Eritrea, and underpins trade between Europe and Asia. 

Millions of barrels of oil, liquefied natural gas and container cargo transit the route daily, making it one of the world’s most sensitive maritime corridors.

It is among the world’s most important routes for seaborne commodities, particularly crude oil and fuel shipments from the Gulf to the Mediterranean, as well as goods bound for Asia, including Russian oil.

On April 2, Deputy Minister of Information in the Houthi government, Mohammed Mansour warned that the Yemeni rebel movement Ansar Allah (Houthis) may close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait separating the Arabian Peninsula from Africa not only in the event of an escalation against Iran, but also to safeguard the Shiite Hezbollah movement in Lebanon.

According to him, such a scenario would inevitably lead to an energy crisis with oil prices rising as high as $200 per barrel.