UN calls urgent meeting over Houthis’ control of the Bab el-Mandab Strait

The situation in the Bab el-Mandab Strait will be examined today by the UN Security Council, as Yemen’s Houthi rebels are attempting to take control of this important maritime corridor, diplomats said.

France, which holds the presidency of the Security Council during September, requested the meeting, scheduled for 15:00 in New York, according to a diplomat.

Representatives from Yemen and Saudi Arabia are also expected to attend the meeting, the source said.

In recent days, the Houthis have inflicted significant losses on Yemeni government forces and the Saudi-led coalition created to support them. These developments have strengthened their control over the Bab el-Mandab Strait, a strategic point for ships linking maritime routes between Europe and Asia.