Houthis Deny Claims of Bab al-Mandab Closure: Only Saudi Arabia Under Blockade

The spokesperson for the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, Mohammed Abdulsalam, denied claims that the Bab al-Mandab Strait has been closed. Abdulsalam stated that the Houthis' previously announced stance was limited to a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia.Abdulsalam noted that this step was taken in response to Saudi Arabia's refusal to accept a fair solution approach that would guarantee the security, sovereignty, and independence of the Yemeni people.The Houthis had announced on July 20 that they had begun implementing a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia.