Houthis declare Saudi naval blockade

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia on July 20-21, 2026, threatening to close the Bab-el-Mandeb strait and disrupt global oil supplies already strained by the U.S.-Iran war. The Houthis acted under Iranian pressure to close the Red Sea gateway if U.S. attacks on Iranian infrastructure continued. The full closure of Bab-el-Mandeb would reduce global oil supply by 7%, adding to the 10% reduction from the Strait of Hormuz closure. Oil prices briefly rose but later fell as diplomatic efforts continued, with Iran receiving a proposal for a 10-day ceasefire. The U.S. conducted a ninth consecutive night of strikes on Iran, while Iran's IRGC attacked oil tankers and U.S. assets in the region. Kuwait and Bahrain reported Iranian drone and missile attacks. Diplomatic moves included Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni asking Pakistan to mediate, and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun planning to meet U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss Hezbollah disarmament. The war has killed thousands, mostly in Iran and Lebanon.