New Delhi, Sept. 15 -- Qatar has warned that closing the Bab al-Mandeb Strait could have "catastrophic" consequences for global trade and energy markets, as Iran-backed Houthi forces expand their presence along Yemen's Red Sea coast. The warning comes as tensions in the region intensify, with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz already severely disrupted.

"The world is suffering enough with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, so we cannot also afford to add the Bab al-Mandeb into that equation," Qatar foreign ministry official Ibrahim Al Hashmi told reporters.

The warning has renewed attention on Bab al-Mandeb, a narrow maritime passage that connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serves as a crucial gateway for ships travelli...