Yemen's Houthis Seize Strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait Control

Yemen's Houthi rebels have reportedly completed their takeover of the Yemeni side of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital global shipping lane, expanding their control along the Red Sea coast. According to AFP, the Houthis have secured Perim Island (also known as Mayun), located in the heart of the strait. Reuters reported that Houthi forces have also reached the coastal city of Dubab, near the strait. This advance follows their capture of the port city of Mokha, a stronghold of the National Resistance Forces, just a day prior.

The Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and approximately 10% of the world's maritime trade passes through it. The Houthis' control over the strait, which is about 29 kilometers wide, could enhance their ability to threaten shipping not only with long-range missiles and drones but also with artillery and shorter-range weapons from the coast.

This development comes shortly after Israeli military officials issued direct warnings to the Houthis and Iran. Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi stated that Israel would not permit existential threats from radical enemies or the establishment of terror groups on its borders. He emphasized the Navy's role in projecting power, asserting that distance no longer grants immunity to those who threaten Israel, citing operations in Bab el-Mandeb, Beirut, Lebanon's ports, and off the coast of Gaza.

Navy Commander Vice Adm. David Saar Salameh added that the Navy monitors both the Mediterranean and Red Seas, and will not accept threats to Israel's freedom of operation or strategic interests, vowing to act covertly and overtly as needed. The Houthi consolidation of control in the Bab el-Mandeb area lends tangible significance to these recent military statements, shifting the threat from distant attacks to a physical presence on a critical international waterway.