Iran has allegedly instructed Yemen’s Houthi rebels to prepare to close the vital Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical Red Sea gateway, as a retaliatory measure should the United States attack Iranian infrastructure, a move that experts warn could severely disrupt global shipping. Sources indicate that Tehran has conveyed this request to the Houthis, who have reportedly deployed missiles and drones near the waterway and are awaiting a command to initiate attacks on commercial vessels. While the Houthis may not be able to completely seal the strait, their demonstrated capability with missiles, drones, and sea mines, as seen in previous campaigns, is sufficient to significantly disrupt maritime traffic, forcing major shipping companies to reroute vessels around Africa. This rerouting would lead to substantial increases in insurance, fuel, and freight costs, exacerbating global supply chain issues. The Bab al-Mandab Strait is one of the world’s most crucial maritime choke points, connecting the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Its disruption, coupled with existing Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz, would have severe economic and humanitarian consequences, impacting approximately 7% of global energy supplies that currently transit this route, including a significant portion of Saudi Arabia’s energy exports. This reported directive also highlights the extent of Iran’s influence over Houthi military decisions, suggesting that any escalation at Bab al-Mandab would be a strategic move coordinated through Iran’s ‘Axis of Resistance’ network and overseen by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The threat follows previous Houthi declarations against Israeli-owned ships and raises concerns about the effectiveness of international efforts to manage the Yemen crisis and prevent the proliferation of Iranian weaponry.
Adapted from: Latest World News on Fox News
