Houthis Say Red Sea Shipping Will Remain Open, Signal Readiness for Talks
The Houthis say they have no intention of shutting down commercial shipping through the Red Sea or the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, despite their recent territorial gains along Yemen’s western coast.
In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Abdulwahid Abu Ras, acting foreign minister of the Houthi-led administration, said concerns about a possible closure of the Red Sea were unfounded. He said maritime navigation remained normal despite a decline in vessel traffic following the group’s seizure of territory around Bab al-Mandeb.
The Houthis have recently captured the Red Sea port city of Mokha, areas near the strategic strait and several nearby islands, increasing their ability to influence one of the world’s key maritime routes. Vessel traffic has fallen significantly compared with levels before the wider regional war.
Abu Ras also said the Houthis remain open to negotiations aimed at ending the renewed conflict in Yemen. He pointed to the UN-backed diplomatic framework that followed the 2022 truce and identified the lifting of restrictions on Houthi-controlled areas as an important demand.
The Houthi official also emphasized that the group makes its own decisions on Yemen, while acknowledging shared opposition with Iran to US and Israeli involvement in the region.
The statements come as international concern grows over the security of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a major route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the wider global shipping network.
