Houthis threaten to close key waterway off Yemen coast
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The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have threatened to close a crucial maritime route along Yemen's coast, escalating tensions in one of the world's most important shipping lanes. The Houthis issued a call to incoming US President Donald Trump to halt "all practices and policies" that obstruct peace efforts in the region. The threat targets waters that serve as a vital corridor for international trade, particularly oil shipments, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The Houthi movement has controlled much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, since 2014, when they ousted the internationally recognized government and sparked a prolonged civil war that has drawn in regional powers including Saudi Arabia and Iran.