Abdullah Al-Saadi, Yemen's representative to the United Nations, warned in an emergency Security Council meeting about Yemen that the Bab al-Mandab Strait is at risk of becoming a "pressure lever" in the hands of transnational terrorist groups. He urged various countries to take responsibility for securing this strategic waterway.
The Importance of the Bab al-Mandab Strait
Al-Saadi emphasized in this meeting that the Houthis' control over the area surrounding the Bab al-Mandab Strait has raised serious concerns. He said: "The question is whether the international community will accept that one of the most important gateways for trade and energy in the world becomes a pressure lever in the hands of transnational terrorist groups?" He added that Yemen does not want the world to defend it, but rather Yemen is defending global interests.
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Security and Economic Consequences
Al-Saadi noted that while the Bab al-Mandab Strait is within Yemen's territorial and maritime boundaries, its security has impacts beyond the borders of this country. "Every ship that passes through this strait, every cargo and every energy shipment dependent on it, is part of the economic security of countries thousands of kilometers away from Yemen," he said.
He stated: "Yemenis who are today defending their shores and waters and the Bab al-Mandab Strait are actually on the front lines of defending an international corridor that the interests of the entire world depend on."
In this context, the Houthis are fighting against the Yemeni government forces supported by Saudi Arabia. This group has also declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia and has attacked ships associated with this country in the Red Sea. The Houthis made rapid field advances last week and gained control of all Yemeni Red Sea coasts and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The Bab al-Mandab Strait has gained greater importance for Saudi oil exports due to regional wars and disruptions in transport through the Strait of Hormuz. The British representative to the United Nations, Kate Foster, also emphasized that the escalation of Houthi attacks "has not happened in a vacuum" and continued Iranian support for the Houthis fuels these attacks, which pose a threat to civilians, neighboring countries, and maritime security.
Foster urged all member countries to "fully" fulfill their obligations and take necessary actions to prevent the transfer of weapons and military support to the Houthis. Additionally, Pakistan's representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, referred to Saudi Arabia's right to self-defense and warned that the expansion of Houthi attacks around the Bab al-Mandab Strait poses a growing threat to international transport.
He added: "The problem is that this initial conflict, which was internal, has now spread beyond national borders and has implications for the entire Middle East." Asim Iftikhar Ahmad expressed concern that this situation negatively affects navigational stability in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
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