Houthis impose email permit system to control Bab al-Mandab shipping

The Houthis have established an email-based permit system requiring vessels to prove no affiliation with Israel, the US, or the UK before transiting Bab al-Mandab. This formalizes their de facto control over a critical chokepoint, extending their maritime interdiction capability beyond direct attacks. The move escalates the threat to global shipping and could disrupt trade flows through the Red Sea, though enforcement and compliance remain uncertain.

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