A Houthi closure of the Bab el-Mandeb would be a way for Iran to broaden the war against the US beyond the Persian Gulf, says James Stavridis for Bloomberg Opinion.

Satellite view of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a vital trade route linking the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Suez Canal, and Mediterranean.Gallo Images | Orbital Horizon |…

Yemen sits on the Bab el-Mandeb strait and closing that would open up a new front in the energy crisis and Iran's overarching conflict with the US. | World News

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it will respond to the Houthis' threats to ships with "force".

The Houthis, a Shiite militia in Yemen, which is aligned with Iran, have announced a naval blockade of a key waterway, the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait.

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

Closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait could add a new ‘layer of complexity’ to hostilities

Houthi militia announced a blockade while the Bab el-Mandeb Strait remains open. Successful Houthi targeting of shipping by July 31 at 47.5% YES.

Even a brief closure of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea, now a crucial alternative supply route, will significantly exacerbate the oil deficit.

Houthi forces blockaded the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, raising shipping disruption concerns. Successful Houthi attacks on shipping by July 31 at 46% YES.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait could be another hit point in the US-Iran war as the Houthis declare a blockade against Saudi Arabian traffic through the strait.

The Houthis’ blockade of the Bab-el-Mandeb strait couldn’t have come at a worse time for the oil market.

The Houthis' blockade of the Bab al-Mandeb strait couldn't have come at a worse time for the oil market.

A Houthi closure of the Bab el-Mandeb would be a way for Iran to broaden the war against the US beyond the Persian Gulf, says James Stavridis for Bloomberg Opinion.