Can the Houthis close the Red Sea after seizing the Yemen coast?

Yemen's Houthi movement has taken control of key positions, including Perim Island and Dhubab, along the Bab al-Mandab strait, according to recent reports. This development comes as part of an intensifying conflict, following the withdrawal of forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government. The Houthi advance also extended to the Hanish Islands, further solidifying their presence in the southern Red Sea.

While the Houthis do not possess officially recognized control of the entire strait, which separates Yemen from Djibouti and Eritrea and serves as a crucial shipping route, their gains significantly enhance their capacity to disrupt maritime traffic. The Bab al-Mandab strait, approximately 29 kilometers wide at its narrowest point, is a vital passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, serving as a key transit point for international shipping lanes.

The strategic implications of the Houthi advances are substantial, particularly given the increasing importance of the Red Sea in global energy supplies, especially in light of recent disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz. Oil markets have already responded to the escalating regional conflict, with Brent crude prices nearing $100 a barrel due to concerns over constrained Middle East supply and the potential impact on Red Sea and Hormuz routes.

Saudi Arabia has responded to the escalating situation by conducting airstrikes against Houthi-held areas, including those around Mocha, while asserting its commitment to defending its territory and interests.