War on the Rocks Hosts Hormuz Dialogue as Mideast War Resumes
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- United States and Israel initiated a war in the Middle East against Iran in February 2026, with the warring sides oscillating between strikes, a fragile ceasefire, and the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz.
- Open hostilities between the warring sides resumed in mid-July 2026, according to the source.
- Houthis in Yemen have threatened Saudi shipping through the Bab al-Mandab, raising the risk to that critical waterway alongside the existing Strait of Hormuz disruption.
- War on the Rocks and RUSI are presenting the first webinar of 'The Atlantic Brief' series, a dialogue on the Strait of Hormuz and the future of free navigation.
- Featured speakers include retired Royal Navy Vice Admiral Andrew Burns, former UK ambassador Nicholas Hopton (with postings in Iran, Qatar, Yemen, and Libya), and CNAS adjunct fellow Rachel Ziemba, moderated by Jonathan Eyal and Nicole Wiley.
Why it matters: The Houthi threat to Saudi shipping through the Bab al-Mandab adds a second chokepoint risk on top of the Strait of Hormuz blockade, compounding maritime danger as open hostilities between the US-Iran sides resumed in mid-July.
