Media: Yemen’s Houthis prepare to shut down Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Yemen’s Houthi movement is preparing to block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait as part of efforts aligned with Iran’s regional strategy.

A source told The Telegraph that Tehran is deliberately seeking to establish control over “the other side of the Red Sea” and replicate a situation similar to its influence over the Strait of Hormuz.

Located on the western side of the Arabian Peninsula, Bab el-Mandeb serves as a strategic maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Indian Ocean.

According to sources in Yemen, the Houthis, widely regarded as Iran’s most capable regional proxy, are taking steps to position themselves to shut down the strait by steadily expanding their influence across the Horn of Africa.

The group, which controls territory on the north-eastern side of the waterway, is expected to cooperate with al-Shabab, the Somali militant organisation, in an effort to gain leverage over both shores of the strait.

The reported objective is to increase economic pressure globally and intensify challenges for US President Donald Trump.

“There are a lot of indicators showing co-ordination between the Houthis and al-Shabab. This co-ordination is aimed at totally controlling and blocking the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb when Iran decides in the future.

The Houthis are transferring drone technology to al-Shabab on behalf of Iran, so the Houthis are becoming the leaders of the region,” the source said.

Both Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz are vital routes for international energy shipments. An estimated 10 to 12 per cent of global maritime trade passes through Bab el-Mandeb each year, providing access to and from the Suez Canal.

A closure of the strait would have significant consequences for global trade, forcing vessels to reroute around the southern coast of Africa, adding weeks to shipping times and increasing transportation costs.

The Bab el-Mandeb and Hormuz straits have never been shut simultaneously.

By Jeyhun Aghazada