Houthi militants announce naval blockade of Bab Al-Mandeb Strait

Houthi forces have declared a blockade of the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint for global energy and trade flows. While the group has previously targeted commercial vessels in the area, this formal declaration of a blockade represents an escalation in their maritime interdiction strategy. The operational capacity of the Houthis to enforce a total blockade remains unverified and subject to ongoing coalition naval countermeasures.