Bab el-Mandeb Strait effectively closed by December 31?

Houthi threats and actions have sharply reduced commercial transits through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait since mid-July 2026. Iran-aligned Houthi forces announced a maritime embargo targeting Saudi-linked shipping, followed by missile strikes on oil tankers and warnings that prompted multiple vessels to reroute or turn back. Shipping data showed daily crossings falling to single digits on several days in late July and early August amid broader regional tensions involving Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Red Sea routes. Passage remains open but heavily disrupted, with ongoing risks from deployed missiles and drones. Traders monitor any ceasefire progress, de-escalation signals, or further attacks that could alter effective closure status within resolution windows.

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