Reuters Report: Iran Tells Houthis to Prepare to Close Bab el-Mandeb if US Strikes Its Power Grid

Reuters reported on Thursday, July 16, 2026, citing three sources, that Iran has instructed Yemen's Houthis to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea to shipping if the United States attacks Iran's power network. According to the report, President Donald Trump had threatened in a July 14 interview to target Iran's electricity infrastructure.

A source close to the Houthis said the group has positioned drones and missiles to potentially attack vessels in Bab el-Mandeb. Based on data from a maritime-trade analytics firm, roughly 7 percent of global oil supply transited the strait in June, a route that has become an alternative corridor for the region's energy exports after disruption at the Strait of Hormuz, meaning its closure could add fresh pressure to the global oil market.