Yemen's Houthis say Bab al-Mandab closed to all Saudi shipping

SANAA — A member of the Houthi political bureau announced on Sunday that the Bab al-Mandab Strait has been fully closed to maritime traffic headed to Saudi Arabia. Mohammed al-Buhaiti said Yemeni armed forces, citing Houthi military sources, will not permit any Saudi-flagged vessel to pass through the waterway. Saudi oil tankers have not crossed Bab al-Mandab since a maritime blockade took effect on Wednesday, he added. According to al-Buhaiti, 16 Saudi vessels have been turned back between last Monday and Sunday, with three Saudi oil tankers targeted in the past 48 hours. The Houthis, an Iran-backed group, have previously warned they could close the strategically located strait. Bab al-Mandab sits at the southern entrance to the Red Sea and serves as the main gateway to the Suez Canal. The waterway is roughly 29 kilometers wide at its narrowest point and carries an estimated 15% of global maritime trade. It is also a primary route for oil shipments from Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude exporter.