The Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen is reportedly planning to seize territory near the Bab Al-Mandab strait, aiming to establish control over this crucial maritime chokepoint. This strategic move would potentially turn the strait into a significant leverage point akin to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has historically used to influence regional shipping routes.

Bab Al-Mandab, located between Yemen and Djibouti, serves as a major gateway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. It is one of the world’s busiest commercial shipping lanes, carrying significant volumes of global maritime trade, including oil shipments. Control over this passage would give the Houthis, who have escalated attacks on vessels since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in 2023, substantial regional influence.

Houthi military sources indicated preparations for an operation targeting territory south of the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah. Deployments reportedly include rocket launchers and approximately 2,000 fighters. While the Houthis do not currently hold direct coastal positions on the strait itself, their control over Hodeidah city to the north gives them significant regional presence.

Yemen’s Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani stated that the Houthis are attempting to extend their reach along the western Yemeni coast and seek control over strategic islands in the Red Sea. He cited repeated attacks by Houthi forces on ports, docks, civilian infrastructure, ships, and government naval assets as evidence of their broader strategy to dominate the area around Bab Al-Mandab.

The Houthis have conducted several attacks targeting key locations near the strait, including the port city of Mokha and military installations, as well as government-held islands in the Red Sea. Maj. Gen. Sadeq Durwaid of the National Resistance Forces, aligned with the Yemeni government, described the militia’s actions as an effort to emulate the strategic control Iran holds over the Strait of Hormuz.

If successful, the Houthis’ increased control over Bab Al-Mandab could complicate international navigation and security, given the strait’s importance to global trade and energy supplies. It would also bolster Tehran’s influence in the region by securing another crucial maritime corridor following its previous closure and control of the Strait of Hormuz during conflicts with the United States.

The ongoing conflict in Yemen, coupled with broader regional tensions, continues to threaten the stability of international shipping routes in the Red Sea, a vital artery of global commerce.