On April 19, according to Al Jazeera, Hussein al-Ezzi, the Houthi movement's official in charge of foreign affairs in Yemen, stated that if U.S. President Trump continues to obstruct the peace process, the Houthis might close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Ezzi said: "If Sana'a decides to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, neither humanity nor spirits could reopen it. Therefore, Trump and the countries supporting him had better immediately cease all actions and policies obstructing peace, and respect our nation’s and people’s rights."
This statement by the Houthi movement marks a crucial step toward escalating regional conflict into a global threat. The firm warning—“neither gods nor demons can open it”—is not an isolated intimidation tactic but is closely coordinated with Iran’s actions, aiming to strangle the global economy’s lifeline and exert maximum pressure on the United States and its allies.
The Houthis’ threat follows Iran’s announcement of blocking the Strait of Hormuz, signaling that the “Arc of Resistance” across the Middle East is now executing a coordinated strategy.
Chain Reaction Effect: The Strait of Hormuz controls the exit of the Persian Gulf, while the Bab el-Mandeb Strait guards the entrance to the Red Sea. With two anti-U.S. forces simultaneously threatening to block these two global energy chokepoints, a “dual-strait blockade strategy” targeting the United States has emerged.
The Houthi movement’s strategic intent is clear: maximize the cost of regional conflict by threatening global economic stability, thereby forcing the United States to change its Middle Eastern policy and placing it in a highly vulnerable military and diplomatic position.
The Houthis have directly linked their conditions for closing the straits to U.S. policy, making their political demands equally explicit.
They demand that U.S. President Trump and his allies “immediately halt all actions and policies obstructing peace” and respect the rights of the Yemeni people.
Against the backdrop of stalled U.S.-Iran negotiations, the Houthis aim to leverage control over global trade lifelines to strengthen the bargaining power of the “Arc of Resistance,” compelling the United States to make concessions on regional issues.
This recent declaration by the Houthis escalates a localized conflict directly into the core of global energy security and economic stability. This is not merely military deterrence—it is a high-stakes political gamble testing the resolve and response capabilities of the United States and its allies.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a vital passage connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, serving as a key shipping route for Persian Gulf energy heading to Europe. Data shows that approximately 12% of global maritime oil trade and 8% of liquefied natural gas transport pass through this strait.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862910494971904/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) alone.