Houthis Threaten to Block Red Sea; Will a 10-Day Ceasefire Proposal Work?

[Anchor]

As the armed conflict between the United States and Iran continues, the situation in the Middle East is becoming increasingly complex, with Yemen's pro-Iranian Houthi rebels threatening to blockade the Red Sea, an alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz. Attention is now focused on whether a 10-day ceasefire proposal, urgently put forward by mediators, can silence the gunfire.

Here is the report by Kim Yongtae.

[Reporter]

Protesters have gathered in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, which is controlled by the pro-Iranian Houthi rebels.

They are holding demonstrations in support of the Houthis after the group declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia.

The area the Houthis are attempting to block is the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a gateway connecting the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. It is an alternative route that Saudi Arabia has been using to increase crude oil exports to avoid the instability of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Houthis cited the Saudi bombing of an airport under their control on July 13 as the reason for their action, but it is interpreted as a move in coordination with Iran, which is pressuring the U.S. by re-imposing a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.

[Saree / Houthi Spokesperson: Our great people confirm that we have the right to respond to a blockade with a blockade, and to escalation with escalation, and we will resolve the situation decisively.]

Saudi Arabia has declared that it will respond firmly to the Houthi acts of piracy, raising concerns about further escalation.

The U.S. released footage claiming that it has been striking Iranian military command posts and missile bases for ten days.

The identities of the two U.S. soldiers who recently died at an air base in Jordan were also revealed, and President Trump warned that for every U.S. soldier Iran kills, the U.S. will retaliate multiple times over.

Iran has also not backed down, attacking U.S. military bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

Iranian President Pezeshkian stated that military strikes cannot force surrender and that Iran is engaged in an all-out war.

Amidst this, U.S. media reported that the U.S. government, following Iran, is considering a 10-day ceasefire proposal suggested by mediating countries.

The proposal calls for a halt to hostilities and a 10-day period to seek ways to ensure passage through the strait. In preparation for a possible breakdown in negotiations, the U.S. has deployed additional fighter jets and aerial refueling tankers, and has issued a travel advisory for U.S. citizens worldwide.

(Video Editing: Kim Jin-won)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.