### [2026-07-24](/feed/2026/07/24/index.md) ##### Middle Eastern crisis # The Houthis deny reports that they have closed the Bab-el-Mandeb and state that they are not seeking to close it, reaffirming that they have only established a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia. ### Sources: 1. [DW](https://www.dw.com/en/yemens-houthis-deny-they-closed-bab-al-mandeb-strait/live-78093040) 2. [Middle East Eye](https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/houthi-spokesperson-says-naval-blockade-bab-el-mandeb-only-against-saudi) ### Related: 1. [The Houthis claim to have attacked two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea for their violation of the blockade by Yemen's Houthi-led armed forces. There are no reported casualties. ](/feed/2026/07/23/the-houthis-claim-to-have-attacked-two-saudi-arabian-oil-tankers-in-the-red-sea-for-their-violation-of-the-blockade-by-y.md) _Context: Houthis, Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia_ 2. [Seven oil tankers departing Saudi Arabia's port of Yanbu change course away from the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb after the Houthis announced a blockade on Saudi Arabian ports. ](/feed/2026/07/22/seven-oil-tankers-departing-saudi-arabia-s-port-of-yanbu-change-course-away-from-the-strait-of-bab-el-mandeb-after-the-h.md) _Context: Bab-el-Mandeb, Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia_ 3. [Two oil tankers departing Saudi Arabia, "Xin Long Yang" and "Rodos", turn around in the Red Sea and head for the Suez Canal instead of the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, after a warning by Houthi-controlled Yemen. ](/feed/2026/07/21/two-oil-tankers-departing-saudi-arabia-xin-long-yang-and-rodos-turn-around-in-the-red-sea-and-head-for-the-suez-ca.md) _Context: Bab-el-Mandeb, Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia_ 4. [The U.S. State Department approves a potential US$1.96 billion deal in arms sales to Saudi Arabia amidst the current Iran war and potential re-escalation with the Houthis. ](/feed/2026/07/15/the-us-state-department-approves-a-potential-us-196-billion-deal-in-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia-amidst-the-current-ira.md) _Context: Houthis, Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia_ 5. [The Houthi-led government accuses Saudi Arabia of an airstrike on a runway at Sanaa International Airport in Houthi-controlled Yemen, which Yemen's internationally recognized government says was to stop an Iranian Mahan Air flight that was returning the Houthi delegation from the funeral of Ali Khamenei. ](/feed/2026/07/13/the-houthi-led-government-accuses-saudi-arabia-of-an-airstrike-on-a-runway-at-sanaa-international-airport-in-houthi-cont.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia_ 6. [Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif says that he will visit fellow mediators in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Ankara, Turkey, to push for a second round of talks between Iran and the U.S. ](/feed/2026/04/14/pakistani-prime-minister-shehbaz-sharif-says-that-he-will-visit-fellow-mediators-in-riyadh-saudi-arabia-and-ankara-tu.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia_ 7. [Saudi Arabia's East–West Crude Oil Pipeline is hit in an Iranian attack. ](/feed/2026/04/8/saudi-arabia-s-east-west-crude-oil-pipeline-is-hit-in-an-iranian-attack.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia_ 8. [Bahrain imposes a nighttime maritime curfew from 6:00{{nbsp}}pm to 4:00{{nbsp}}am to restrict sea traffic and strengthen coastal security following reported attacks attributed to Iran. [https:--today.lorientlejour.com-article-1501346-bahrain-announces-curfew-for-maritime-traffic-ministry.html (AFP via "L'Orient Today")]***Ten Kuwaiti soldiers are injured in a new wave of missile and drone attacks on Kuwait. [https:--saudigazette.com.sa-article-660088-world-10-kuwaiti-soldiers-injured-in-missile-and-drone-attacks ("Saudi Gazette")]*The foreign ministers of Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, meet in Islamabad to express their "full support" for potential Iran–United States talks hosted by Pakistan. [https:--www.france24.com-en-live-news-20260329-pakistan-hosts-saudi-turkey-egypt-for-talks-on-mideast-war (AFP via France 24)]*United States president Donald Trump tells "Financial Times" that the U.S. could seize Kharg Island and "take the oil" in Iran, although "a deal could be made fairly quickly". [https:--www.ft.com-content-3bd9fb6c-2985-4d24-b86b-23b7884031f5 ("Financial Times")] [https:--english.news.cn-northamerica-20260330-e0958790470e42ccaf54eff1aaa783f8-c.html (Xinhua)]*An Iranian missile hits the Makhteshim chemical plant in southern Israel. A warning for the leakage of hazardous materials is issued for the immediate vicinity of the site. [https:--www.reuters.com-world-middle-east-adama-chemicals-plant-southern-israel-hit-by-iranian-missile-or-debris-2026-03-29- (Reuters)]*A visual evidence released by "The New York Times" shows that a sports hall in Lamerd in the Fars province of Iran was hit by a untested short-range Precision Strike Missile during the first day of the war on February 28, 2026. [https:--www.nytimes.com-2026-03-29-world-middleeast-us-precision-strike-missile-iran-lamerd.html ("The New York Times")]An Indonesian peacekeeper of the UNIFIL mission is killed and a second one is critically injured when a projectile explodes at their position near Aadshit al-Qusayr, Nabatieh Governorate. [https:--www.timesofisrael.com-indonesian-peacekeeper-killed-in-lebanon-explosion-2nd-critically-injured- ("Times of Israel")]*2026 Iranian strikes on Kuwait](/feed/2026/03/29/bahrain-imposes-a-nighttime-maritime-curfew-from-6-00-nbsp-pm-to-4-00-nbsp-am-to-restrict-sea-traffic-and-strengthen.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia_ 9. [The Houthis launch a ballistic missile from their territory in Yemen towards Israel, signifying the group's entrance in the war. The Israeli military says that the missile was successfully intercepted and no injuries were reported. A second attack, also without damage, is reported hours later. ](/feed/2026/03/28/the-houthis-launch-a-ballistic-missile-from-their-territory-in-yemen-towards-israel-signifying-the-group-s-entrance-in.md) _Context: Houthis, Middle Eastern crisis_ 10. [Several NATO allies of the United States, including Germany, Italy, and Spain, rule out sending warships to lift the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following a request from U.S. president Donald Trump. ](/feed/2026/03/16/several-nato-allies-of-the-united-states-including-germany-italy-and-spain-rule-out-sending-warships-to-lift-the-blo.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, blockade_