The Yemeni government stated on the 27th that the Houthi forces may "follow Iran's example" by attempting to control the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, another key international energy transport route in the Middle East, and that the government is "prepared for a possible escalation of conflict." On the other hand, the Houthi forces said that the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait has not been closed and that the recently announced maritime blockade measures "only target Saudi Arabia." According to reports, Yemen's d

The Yemeni government stated on the 27th that the Houthi forces may "follow Iran's example" by seeking to control the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, another major international energy transportation route in the Middle East, and that the Yemeni government is "prepared for a possible escalation of conflict." Meanwhile, the Houthi forces indicated that the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait has not been closed and that the recently announced maritime blockade measures are "targeted only at Saudi Arabia." Reportedly, Yemen's designated Foreign Minister, Afra Zuba, told reporters at the Yemeni Embassy in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, that the Houthis are following Iran's strategy in the Strait of Hormuz by attempting to control the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which could result in disruptions to two major shipping routes in the Middle East at the same time. (CCTV News).