Yemen's unrecognized Houthi administration warned that they are prepared to close the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, mouth of the Red Sea. This is a second maritime chokepoint for oil from the Arabian Peninsula after the Strait of Hormuz, now effectively closed due to Washington's conflict with Iran. In a post on X [8] April 18, Houthi deputy foreign minister Hussein al-Ezzi said: "If Sana'a decides to close the Bab al-Mandab, then all of mankind and jinn will be utterly powerless to open it... [T]herefore, it is best for Trump—and the complicit world—to immediately end all practices and policies that obstruct peace, and to show the respect required for the rights of our people and nation." (Times of India [10])
In a speech three days later, Houthi leader Abdel Malek al-Houthi warned, "Sanaa will not remain neutral," framing the current maritime tensions as part of a wider conflict targeting the "Islamic nation." He said that any further military escalation would be met with an "equivalent response," calling for increased coordination among members of the "axis of resistance." (i24News [11])
Oil prices have been responding erratically [12] to the changing situation in the Persian Gulf. After sinking 10% last week, oil prices have rebounded this week as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained severely restricted. On April 20, the US Navy fired on and seized an Iranian vessel it accused of attempting to break its blockade. (OilPrice.com [13])
