AS the pro-Iran Houthis battle both the Saudis and the Riyadh-backed Yemeni government, alarm bells are ringing across the world over the economic shockwave the long-term closure of the Bab al-Mandeb strait would send across the globe. The militia, which controls significant territory in Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, has, over the past few days of fighting, consolidated its gains around the strait. The Houthis say that passage through the channel is open for all except Saudi vessels — against whom they have vowed to enforce a “blockade for blockade”. Yet this will do little to reassure crews, as few vessels will want to pass through an active war zone. The Strait of Hormuz — that other major regional chokepoint — is already practically closed due to the US war on Iran. If shipping traffic through Bab al-Mandeb also grinds to a halt, the global economy will be in very dangerous territory. The government has said Pakistan faces an energy crunch. But Pakistan is not alone; disruption in the strait or the Red Sea will have an impact far and wide. Protests have been reported from as far afield as Syria and Indonesia, and if the situation worsens, more public unrest is likely as fuel pumps run dry.
Therefore, the Houthis — whatever their differences with the Saudis or the Yemeni government — must reconsider closure of Bab al-Mandeb, and pledge to keep it open for all vessels. As the Pakistani representative told the UN Security Council the other day, any attempt to “threaten, obstruct, or weaponise” vital waterways will have negative effects on international trade and shipping, as well as energy security. He added that “diplomacy must assume urgency”. The need for talks cannot be emphasised enough. The region cannot afford more violence; the Yemeni people have already suffered for over a decade, while the global economy is on tenterhooks due to the situation in Yemen. As the Saudis have enforced a blockade of Houthi-held territory since 2015, Riyadh could offer to lift the blockade if the militia stopped their attacks on the kingdom’s territory. Furthermore, a Yemeni-led, Yemeni-owned peace process is essential domestically. All belligerents need to step back and give talks a chance, as an escalation in violence would be catastrophic for the region.
Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2026
