Houthis Seek to Replicate Iran’s Strategy in Red Sea Shipping Control
The Houthi movement, backed by Yemen’s internationally recognized government, is seeking to replicate its strategy in the Strait of Hormuz by controlling shipping flows through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. This move has been met with concern from regional and global powers.
According to sources close to the situation, the Houthis claim that Saudi Arabia’s drone downed an Iranian-operated drone over northwestern Yemen earlier this month. The incident is believed to have sparked a heightened sense of complacency among Houthi leaders, who are now seeking to replicate Iran’s strategy in controlling shipping through the Red Sea.
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean, making it an essential passage for global maritime trade. The strait is already subject to significant traffic volumes, with approximately 30 percent of global container traffic passing through it annually.
Yemen’s geography provides a strategic advantage in controlling shipping through Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Whoever controls Yemen’s western coast will have significant influence over the flow of goods and resources through this critical waterway.
The situation has been escalating since July when Houthi forces declared a maritime siege on Red Sea shipping to and from Saudi Arabia, launching missiles and drones at the kingdom. Riyadh responded with air strikes on the port city of Hodeidah, held by the Houthis.
According to data, just 11 commodity vessels passed through Bab al-Mandeb Strait in Sunday’s traffic count. The incident has raised concerns about the potential for further escalation between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
The international community is also taking notice of the situation. Al Jazeera reports that a recent study by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) found that shipping through the Red Sea is already declining, with significant losses to global trade due to increased security threats.
Yemeni Foreign Minister-designate Afrah al-Zouba has warned that the Houthi movement will continue to pursue its strategy of controlling shipping flows in Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The international community must remain vigilant and work towards finding a peaceful resolution to this conflict, which has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives since 2014.
Source: Al Jazeera
Based on reporting from Al Jazeera.
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