Saudi Arabia Forms Maritime Alliance with 14 Nations

Saudi Arabia has formed a maritime alliance with 14 nations to secure the critical Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key Red Sea shipping route.

The move comes after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis announced they would impose a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, and targeted Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia invited 51 countries and organizations to a meeting about the alliance in Riyadh on Thursday, which was attended by representatives of 43 countries and an EU delegation.