Africa · Northern
Key Facts
—Houthi blockade declared. On 20 July 2026, Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement announced a maritime blockade targeting Saudi-linked vessels transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
—Coalition naval response. The Saudi-led coalition pledged to secure the strait with visible naval deployments and warned of a forceful response to any interference with commercial shipping.
—Egypt’s firm backing. Cairo condemned the Houthi threat as an irresponsible escalation, estimating a full strait closure could cut global oil supply by around 7% and devastate Suez Canal revenues.
