Losing access to Bab el-Mandeb would be 'catastrophic for the entire world,' Qatar warns

Qatar has called for global cooperation to maintain open access to the Bab el-Mandeb strait, warning that its loss would be catastrophic. The warning comes as the Iran-backed Houthis have seized more islands in the southern Red Sea, solidifying their control in and near Bab el-Mandeb. The closure of this vital shipping route, which connects the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea, would only exacerbate the ongoing disruption caused by the Hormuz blockade, according to Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Hashmi, Qatar's media and communication director.

Al Hashmi urged countries to work together to prevent the blocking of international waterways from becoming the "new normal." The Houthi group has already taken control of the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands, as well as the coastal port of Mokha and Perim Island, which sits at the entrance to the strait. The Houthis have also launched attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure and ships in the Red Sea, placing additional pressure on energy supplies during the Iran war.

The Bab el-Mandeb strait is crucial for global trade, as vessels traveling between Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal must pass through it. Previously, Houthi attacks forced many vessels to reroute around southern Africa, adding time and expense to their journeys. Saudi Arabia backs the internationally recognized Yemeni government, which has been regrouping its forces after the Houthis' recent gains.

Meanwhile, US and Iranian blockades have already disrupted shipping through Hormuz. Qatar is working with regional and international partners to support talks on ensuring freedom of navigation through Hormuz and is diligently working towards a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflicts.