Iran Orders Houthi Rebels to Prepare for Bab al-Mandab Strait Closure Amid US Threats

Iran has instructed the Houthi rebels in Yemen to prepare for the potential closure of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategic oil route in the Red Sea, if the United States attacks Iran's power infrastructure. This directive was reported on Thursday by three sources to Reuters, indicating that the plan was discussed at the highest levels in Tehran and recently communicated to the Houthis.

A source close to the Houthis revealed that the group has completed preparations to strike vessels near the Bab al-Mandab Strait using missiles and drones. Forces have been deployed in Yemeni areas overlooking Al Hudaydah and the Gulf of Aden, awaiting a final go-ahead from Iranian Revolutionary Guards representatives present in Yemen. The source stated, "The Iranian Revolutionary Guards representatives in Yemen will make the final decision."

The potential closure of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, combined with the already active closure of the Strait of Hormuz, could severely disrupt two of the Middle East's main oil export routes. Such disruptions would significantly exacerbate the global energy crisis.