Somalia has taken the dramatic step of barring Israeli-linked vessels from transiting the vital Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a narrow but hugely important maritime chokepoint that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the broader Indian Ocean. The move, announced by Somalia’s ambassador to the African Union, comes in direct protest against Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland. Somalia warned that any infringement on its sovereignty could trigger further countermeasures, including limitations on access to this strategic waterway.