Post #4682733 · Elektrine

2026-09-13 19:41 UTC

yemen is at the south of the red sea, literally next to bab-el-mandeb. they control that area of the red sea, not the suez canal, which is way up north and connects with the mediterranean, egypt controls that. i haven’t read anything claiming they have complete control over the whole of the red sea, only that area where they can target boats leaving the red sea through the strait.

Replies (1)

@sanitation@lemmy.today 2026-09-13 19:49

I feel like you’re missing the point entirely. Bab-el-Mandeb is the southern gate of the Red Sea. Suez is the northern gate. You don’t need to own both doors to trap someone in the hallway - you just need to lock one. If the Houthis can effectively close Bab-el-Mandeb, they control whether ships can transit the Red Sea at all, which means they control the Suez route’s viability by default. That’s called chokepoint leverage, not “complete control of the whole Red Sea.” Nobody said they planted a flag in Suez. They don’t have to. Egypt can own the canal all day — if the southern exit is a shooting gallery, the canal is a dead end. So yes: technically you’re correct. Strategically, you’re arguing a distinction without a difference.

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