Yemeni government forces patrolling a shipping lane in the Red Sea. AFPInfoShipping in Bab Al Mandeb strait more than halved since Houthis announced blockade The NationalJuly 28, 2026
The Houthis have declared an embargo on Saudi shipping in Bab Al Mandeb strait, causing maritime traffic to slump by more than 56 per cent.
The group has escalated attacks, claiming to have targeted Saudi Aramco's oil facilities, though neither Saudi Arabia nor the company confirmed success.
Pakistan, bound by a defence pact with Saudi Arabia, has threatened to respond if Houthi attacks persist.
US-Iran diplomatic talks are under way, with discussions reportedly encompassing Red Sea tensions and Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
