Houthis Push for Control of Bab el-Mandeb

The Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen moved closer on Thursday to gaining greater influence over the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait. According to four Yemeni government military sources, the rebels are close to taking full control of the coastal towns of Mocha and Dhubab, which lie directly on the strait. The Houthis are seeking control of the entire Yemeni Red Sea coast.

In recent days, fighting between the Houthis and Yemeni forces backed by Saudi Arabia has intensified. According to Reuters, the developments point to a possible resumption of full-scale war in Yemen. The fighting also represents a second front in the broader conflict with Iran, which threatens global energy supplies.

Bab el-Mandeb is the southern entrance to the Red Sea and one of the world’s most important routes for transporting oil, fuel and other commodities. Its blockage, following Iran’s de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, would cut off Persian Gulf oil producers, including Saudi Arabia, from their main maritime routes.

At the same time, the Houthis are attacking Saudi Arabia. They claim to have struck an airbase in Khamis Mushait and oil infrastructure in surrounding cities. The Saudi-led coalition said at least 73 people were injured in recent Houthi attacks on four cities in the south of the country.

(Reuters, max)