Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis, who control much of the country, have declared a ban on Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea. The militant group stated that it has a right to confront American-Israeli aggression.
This move imposes a partial blockade in the waterway, raising the prospect of major disruptions on the key route. Such actions further strangle supply routes and add to the challenges facing global shipping through the Middle East during the Iran war.
Combined with blockades in the Bab el-Mandeb and Hormuz, these actions now threaten roughly a third of the world's seaborne oil and gas. Additionally, the Houthis claimed to have carried out a missile strike on Israel, further aggravating the conflict in the Mideast.