00:00Saudi Arabia has formed a new Maritime Defence Alliance to protect shipping routes near the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
00:06The Saudi Defence Ministry says the 14-member coalition would strengthen maritime security
00:11and safeguard freedom of navigation across key regional waters.
00:17The alliance includes Bahrain, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait and Nigeria.
00:23Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Turkey and Yemen are also part of the alliance.
00:31Its operation will cover Bab al-Mandab, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Eden,
00:36where recent attacks have increased security concerns.
00:39On July 20, the Houthis declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia
00:43before claiming attacks on a Saudi tanker and oil facilities.
00:47Since then, some tankers have changed course to avoid Bab al-Mandab,
00:51disrupting shipping along one of the world's most important maritime trade routes.
00:56This trade has become even more important for Saudi crude exports
01:00after the US-Iran conflict restricted shipments to the Strait of Hormuz.
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