Setting the Stage for the King of the South

Saudi Arabia has announced a 14‑nation maritime defense coalition to secure the Bab al‑Mandeb, Red Sea, and Gulf of Aden, the corridor linking the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea (Al Jazeera, July 30, 2026). This union became necessary as Yemen’s Houthis have set up a maritime blockade at the Bab al-Mandeb strait, disrupting oil shipments rerouted to avoid the blockaded Strait of Hormuz. The Red Sea accounts for up to 30 percent of global shipping traffic and 5 percent of crude oil and refined petroleum products (Al Jazeera, July 30, 2026). These twin blockades have contributed to rising global energy prices, and crude prices jumped more than 30 percent in July alone (Financial Review, July 24, 2026).

Of the 14 countries involved in the Multinational Maritime Defence Alliance, only Turkey is geographically north of Jerusalem. This is relevant in that the “king of the South,” referenced in Daniel 11, will apparently be a confederation of nations south of Jerusalem. Notably, Egypt is one participant in this maritime alliance, after having suffered its first drone strike on Wednesday, July 29, at the Mediterranean port of Damietta. As of this writing, the attack is suspected to have been committed by Iran, but this has not yet been confirmed (CarnegieEndowment.org, August 3, 2026). The Damietta Port is of major significance in that it lies at the crossroads of international shipping lanes and regional energy networks.

The potential of these events must be understood against the backdrop of Daniel 11, which foretold, “At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through” (v. 40). The king of the South has not yet been set up, but the events now occurring in the Middle East may be building to it. To learn more, watch “The Three End-Time Superpowers.”