Italy deploys navy to Bab al-Mandab unilaterally as Houthis seize Yemeni coast

Italy has decided to send its navy to the Bab al-Mandab Strait without waiting for an EU consensus, following the Houthi takeover of Yemen's entire west coast, which gives them unrestricted access to the strategic waterway. The move signals a breakdown in EU coordination and a shift toward national responses to maritime security threats. The development raises the risk of direct military engagement and underscores the vulnerability of Red Sea shipping lanes.