Ibrahim bin Sultan Al-Hashemi, Director of Media and Communications at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, announced in a briefing in Doha that closing the entrance to the Red Sea could further disrupt the disturbances caused by the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz.
Consequences of Closing the Bab el-Mandeb
Al-Hashemi stated that the world is already suffering enough from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing: "We cannot add the Bab el-Mandeb to this equation. The entire world will suffer, and this will be catastrophic for the whole world." He added that blocking international waterways cannot become a new norm and urged countries to cooperate to prevent this situation.
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Recent Developments in the Red Sea
This warning comes after Ansar Allah of Yemen has seized more islands in the southern Red Sea and strengthened its position at the Bab el-Mandeb. On Monday, this group announced that it had captured the large and small Hanish islands and had previously taken control of the coastal port of Mokha and the island of Perim at the entrance to the strait.
Saudi Arabia supports the Yemeni government recognized by the international community. Ansar Allah of Yemen has also carried out multiple attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure and ships in the Red Sea following the announcement of a blockade on Saudi shipping in July. These attacks have put additional pressure on energy resources and, alongside the blockades by the United States and Iran, have disrupted shipping through Hormuz.
The Bab el-Mandeb, meaning the Gate of Tears, connects the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea, and ships traveling between Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal must pass through it. Reports indicate that previous attacks by Yemenis have forced many ships to navigate away from this area to avoid danger, leading to increased travel time and costs.
Al-Hashemi further stated that Qatar is working with regional and international partners to support negotiations on freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and called for diplomacy to resolve disputes. He asserted: "This is not an impossible task because ultimately, the only solution will be through the negotiating table, and this is something we are working on seriously."
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