Yemen seeks international support to protect Bab el-Mandeb

Yemeni Foreign Minister Afrah Al-Zouba has launched a diplomatic campaign to secure international support for protecting the Bab el-Mandeb strait following escalations by Houthi forces. In a series of meetings and calls with officials from Bahrain, Morocco, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Russia, Al-Zouba emphasized that Houthi movements in the western coast and threats to the maritime corridor serve an Iranian agenda and jeopardize regional and global security.

During discussions with British Minister of State Stephen Doty, the Yemeni government called for enhanced capabilities to secure its coasts and ports, alongside stricter enforcement of UN Security Council resolutions to limit the flow of weapons, technology, and funding to the Houthi militia. Doty condemned Houthi attacks on Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and civilian infrastructure, noting that such actions threaten vital international trade routes.

These diplomatic efforts coincide with significant shifts in territorial control. Since early July 2026, Houthi forces have reportedly seized control of Al Hudaydah province and advanced toward the city of Mocha and its port, reaching the Bab el-Mandeb strait. Meanwhile, government forces have made gains in Al Jawf province near the Saudi border.