The United Nations has moved swiftly in response to the Houthis’ rapid advance to seize control of the Bab al-Mandeb strait. The Security Council is holding an emergency meeting on Tuesday over the situation in this critically important shipping route.
The meeting was called at France’s request and is expected to take place Tuesday afternoon, New York time.
News agency Reuters reported the information.
Citing two French diplomats, Reuters said the meeting was called because the situation at Bab al-Mandeb is rapidly deteriorating.
Located between Yemen and Djibouti, the roughly 20-kilometre-wide Bab al-Mandeb is one of the world’s most important shipping lanes, serving as a key connecting route for maritime trade between Europe and Asia.
Before fighting resumed this month, around 12 percent of global trade passed through this strait.
In recent days, the Houthis have seized a large part of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline. They have also taken control of Mayun (Perim) island, located within the Bab al-Mandeb strait.