Mohammed al-Buhaiti, a member of the Houthi Political Bureau in Yemen, recently stated that the group “may block the Strait of Mandeb” in solidarity with Iran.

“If we are forced to close the Strait of Mandeb, the Houthis will only target ships from countries involved in attacks against Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine.”

The Strait of Mandeb, located between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, is a vital waterway connecting the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Indian Oceans, and is often referred to as the “maritime corridor” linking Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Currently, the northern and southern ends of the Red Sea—the Suez Canal and the Strait of Mandeb, respectively—constitute key chokepoints for global trade. Approximately 12% of global trade and 30% of global container traffic pass through the Suez Canal.

Should major shipping companies suspend Red Sea routes due to security risks, they would be forced to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. Industry experts point out that this would extend the voyage by two weeks to a month and increase transportation costs per vessel by $400,000 to $1 million.