Russian Warning to Saudi Arabia Regarding a “Thermonuclear Weapon” in Bab Al-Mandeb

Russia delivered a strong warning to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, coinciding with renewed tension with Yemen.

Exclusive – Al-Khabar Al-Yemeni:

The Chairman of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, described Bab Al-Mandeb as greater than a “thermonuclear weapon,” considering that its closure in the event of new military conflicts could lead to an effective halt to all oil shipments and other maritime navigation.

Medvedev was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of his visit to Tehran, where he attended the farewell ceremonies for the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to the Russian news agency “TASS.”

Medvedev’s statements came as tension returned between Sana’a and Riyadh.

Officials in Sana’a had threatened to close the strait if Saudi Arabia continued to evade peace entitlements in Yemen.

The threat to use the Bab Al-Mandeb card is among the options Yemen has showcased in its new battle against Saudi Arabia.

The Russian official’s statements serve as a message to Saudi Arabia, for which Bab Al-Mandeb is one of its most prominent outlets to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.