Houthis seize Bab el Mandeb coast, Iran blocks Hormuz; chokepoint risk spikes

Houthi forces have advanced to control the Yemeni Red Sea coast and islands at Bab el Mandeb, while Iran maintains a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The claim is sourced from a single outlet and unverified; if confirmed, it would mark a significant escalation in control over a critical maritime chokepoint, threatening global trade and energy flows.