Editorial "Bab al-Mandeb Closure" — Dawn, 17 September 2026
Dawn's 17 September editorial examines the mounting global alarm over the Bab al-Mandeb strait as Houthi forces battle both Saudi Arabia and the Riyadh-backed Yemeni government. Having consolidated territory around the strait, including the capital Sanaa, the Houthis say the channel stays open to all shipping except Saudi vessels, against which they have vowed a "blockade for blockade." Dawn argues this pledge offers little comfort, since few crews will risk sailing through an active war zone regardless. The stakes are compounded by the fact that the Strait of Hormuz — the world's other major chokepoint — is already nearly shut because of the US-Iran war; a simultaneous closure of Bab al-Mandeb would push the global economy into what the piece calls "very dangerous territory." With Pakistan already facing an energy crunch and protests over the crisis reported as far away as Syria and Indonesia, the editorial calls on the Houthis to reconsider the closure, urges Riyadh to consider lifting its own blockade of Houthi territory in exchange for an end to attacks, and stresses that a Yemeni-led, Yemeni-owned peace process is essential. Its core message: talks, not further escalation, are the only way to prevent a regional crisis from becoming a global economic emergency.
"The need for talks cannot be emphasised enough."
Read the full editorial on Dawn: "Bab al-Mandeb closure" — Dawn, 17 September 2026
Vocabulary Builder (14 words)
| Word | Meaning | اردو |
|---|---|---|
| shockwave | a sudden, strongly disturbing effect on a situation or people | شدید اثر، لرزہ خیز جھٹکا |
| consolidated | made control or possession of something stronger or more secure | مستحکم کیا، مضبوط کیا |
| blockade | sealing off a place to stop people, ships or goods entering or leaving | ناکہ بندی، محاصرہ |
| reassure | to remove someone's doubts or fears and restore confidence | تسلی دینا، اطمینان دلانا |
| chokepoint | a narrow, strategic passage whose control affects a much larger area | تزویراتی گزرگاہ، اہم راستہ |
| grind to a halt | idiom: to slow down gradually and then stop completely | مکمل طور پر رک جانا، ٹھپ ہونا |
| crunch | a situation of severe shortage or pressure, especially economic | شدید قلت، دباؤ کی صورتحال |
| tenterhooks | idiom (on tenterhooks): in anxious suspense about what will happen | بے چینی و تشویش کی حالت میں |
| weaponise | to turn something into a tool of pressure, coercion or attack | بطور ہتھیار استعمال کرنا |
| emphasised | given special importance or stress in speaking or writing | زور دیا، اہمیت اجاگر کی |
| belligerents | countries or parties formally engaged in a war or armed conflict | متحارب فریقین |
| catastrophic | causing sudden, widespread damage or suffering | تباہ کن، ہولناک |
| obstruct | to block or hinder movement, progress or a process | رکاوٹ ڈالنا، روکنا |
| energy security | reliable, uninterrupted access to energy sources at an affordable cost | توانائی کا محفوظ حصول و تحفظ |
Also Read: Sugar Trap (Editorial)
Grammar Focus
1. Present perfect + "since" (duration up to now): "As the Saudis have enforced a blockade of Houthi-held territory since 2015..." The present perfect with "since" links an action that began at a point in the past and continues up to now. Example: She has lived in Karachi since 2015.
2. "Cannot be + past participle + enough" (emphatic passive): "The need for talks cannot be emphasised enough." This structure stresses that something is extremely important. Example: Her contribution to the project cannot be praised enough.
3. "Any attempt to + verb" (warning/consequence structure): "...any attempt to 'threaten, obstruct, or weaponise' vital waterways will have negative effects..." Names a hypothetical action and immediately attaches its consequence — common in diplomatic statements. Example: Any attempt to bypass the agreement will be met with sanctions.
Get the Full Breakdown
Want the complete editorial text with line-by-line Urdu explanation, full grammar notes and practice questions as a printable PDF? It's shared daily — free — in our WhatsApp Group.
Join our WhatsApp Channel | Join our WhatsApp Group | Follow us on Facebook