By Hammad Kahlun,
Scandinavian News Agency
Houthis Deny Red Sea shipping routes remain officially open, according to the group’s acting foreign minister, even as vessel traffic through the region has fallen sharply.
Abdulwahid Abu Ras said the Houthis Deny Red have “no intention” of closing Bab el-Mandeb, adding that “navigation is normal,” according to SNN News Finland’s report.
The statement comes despite a steep drop in commercial shipping through two of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints. Just 21 commodity vessels reportedly crossed Bab el-Mandeb on Monday, down from roughly 50 per day before hostilities escalated earlier this year, per the report.
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was described as even thinner, with only 4 vessels recorded compared to around 130 before the conflict.
Houthis Red Sea Control Expands Along Coastline
According to the report, the Houthis now control Yemen’s entire Houthis Deny Red Sea coastline, having taken territory around Bab el-Mandeb, Mokha, and nearby islands.
Attacks on vessels linked to Saudi Arabia have reportedly resumed in the same period, though SNN News Finland’s report did not specify further details on the frequency or targets of these attacks.
Analysts and shipping industry observers have long noted that a strait does not need to be formally closed for global trade to treat it as effectively unsafe.
When insurers, shipping lines, and naval escorts respond to security risks by rerouting vessels, the practical effect on trade volumes can resemble a closure even without one being declared.
Diplomatic Track Alongside Military Pressure
Abu Ras is also reported to have said the Houthis Deny Red remain open to peace talks and want to see the 2022 roadmap, a previous framework for de-escalation in Yemen, revived.
This dual messaging asserting that shipping lanes remain open while simultaneously holding territory along the coastline reflects a broader strategy that combines military leverage with stated diplomatic openness, according to the report.
The Yemeni government and Saudi-led coalition have historically disputed Houthi characterizations of the security situation in the Red Sea, though no direct response from Saudi or Yemeni government officials was included in the available notes for this report.
Key Facts
- Houthis Deny Red official Abdulwahid Abu Ras denies any intention to close Bab el-Mandeb or the Red Sea, per SNN News Finland’s report
- Vessel traffic through Bab el-Mandeb reportedly fell from about 50 per day to 21 on Monday
- Strait of Hormuz traffic reportedly dropped from around 130 vessels to just 4
- The Houthis are reported to control Yemen’s entire Red Sea coastline, including areas near Mokha
- Abu Ras reportedly reaffirmed interest in reviving the 2022 peace roadmap
- Houthis Deny Red
FAQs:
What did the Houthi official say about the Red Sea?
Abdulwahid Abu Ras reportedly said the Houthis have “no intention” of closing Bab el-Mandeb and that “navigation is normal,” per SNN News Finland’s report.
How much has shipping traffic dropped?
According to the report, Bab el-Mandeb traffic fell from roughly 50 vessels a day to 21, while Hormuz traffic dropped from about 130 to just 4.
Do the Houthis control the Red Sea coastline?
The report states the group controls Yemen’s entire Red Sea coastline, including territory around Bab el-Mandeb and Mokha, though this has not been independently confirmed here.
Are the Houthis open to peace talks?
Yes, according to the report, Abu Ras said the group wants to revive the 2022 roadmap for de-escalation.
Why does shipping decline even without a formal closure?
Vessels, insurers, and shipping lines often reroute around a security risk voluntarily, which can reduce traffic through a strait even if it remains technically open.
What This Means for Global Trade
Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz are both critical corridors for global oil and commodity shipments.
Houthis Deny Red sustained decline in vessel traffic through either chokepoint can raise shipping costs and insurance premiums, effects that typically ripple through global supply chains regardless of whether a strait is technically “closed.”
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