NewsWorld newsMiddle East warThe rebel Houthis in Yemen have said they would close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait - a key Saudi waterway out of the Red Sea since the Strait of Hormuz closed06:10, 21 Jul 2026An Iranian-backed group has threatened to impose a maritime blockade against a US ally as the Middle East conflict widens.‌The rebel Houthis in Yemen have said they would close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait - a key Saudi waterway out of the Red Sea since the Strait of Hormuz closed amid the US-Iran war.‌The Strait of Hormuz was closed by Iran early into the conflict in retaliation to joint US-Israeli strikes on several key Iranian sites. The critical waterway facilitated the movement of 20% of all global oil traded, but the closure has rocked oil movement and in turn, global markets.‌The Houthis' armed forces said in a statement that they were declaring "a maritime embargo against the criminal Saudi enemy, based on the equation of 'an eye for an eye', effective immediately". It said that this was for "an unjust and oppressive siege" imposed on Yemen by the Saudis.Saudi Arabia condemned the Houthi naval blockade announcement and accusations Riyadh of "besieging" the Yemeni people. The internationally recognised Yemen government also condemned the Houthi statement.‌The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen have said they would act to protect shipping and respond with force to the Houthis."Such threats are a blatant violation of international law and falls under acts of maritime piracy," the coalition said.Article continues belowThe full closure of the Bab el-Mandeb strait would reduce global oil supply by 7% as it would leave most of Saudi oil exports unable to leave the region, Sydney Morning Herald reports.The closure could open a new front against the US in its war with Iran and contribute to a massive drop in oil out of the Gulf.Oil prices rose briefly after the Houthi statement, but later fell back as traders held out hope of a diplomatic breakthrough.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Middle East warHouthisMiddle EastOil pricesIran