Houthi gains at Bab el-Mandeb expose Israel's unresolved Eilat shipping crisis - analysis
Even before the threat to Saudi oil routes, the Houthis had already registered a significant strategic achievement against Israel by disrupting regular commercial shipping to the Port of Eilat.
The recent Houthi seizure of key locations in Yemen, including Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, has intensified the shipping crisis that Israel has been grappling with for nearly three years. The strategic importance of the Strait, which connects the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea and Suez Canal, has become a focal point for both Israel and Saudi Arabia, as they seek solutions to restore commercial shipping to the port of Eilat.
Despite the IDF's ongoing strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen and the establishment of an alternative route through Aqaba, Jordan, commercial vessels have yet to resume regular sailings to Eilat. Israel's reluctance to designate the restoration of shipping as a primary security and diplomatic goal has hindered progress, leaving the port's recovery dependent on the decisions of shipping companies and insurers.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
