▲ Houthi rebels in Yemen (File Photo)
Yemen's Houthi rebels, who are aligned with Iran, are preparing to blockade the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the entrance to the Red Sea, in cooperation with the Somali militant terrorist group al-Shabaab, the British newspaper The Telegraph reported on July 15 (local time).
A source told the outlet, "There are numerous indicators showing cooperation between the Houthis and al-Shabaab," adding, "The goal of this cooperation is to fully control and blockade the Bab el-Mandeb Strait when Iran makes the decision in the future."
The source further added, "The Houthis are transferring drone technology to al-Shabaab on behalf of Iran, and through this, the Houthis are emerging as the dominant force in the region."
This suggests they are quietly expanding their influence into the Horn of Africa, where Somalia is located, to seize control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Geographically, Yemen and Somalia face each other across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
With Iran having re-blocked the Strait of Hormuz on July 12, citing U.S. attacks, the realization of this joint plan would mean that both straits, which serve as vital arteries for global logistics and energy, would be blocked simultaneously.
Since the Strait of Hormuz was blocked during the current Middle East conflict, the Red Sea route has been serving as a detour for the supply of crude oil from Saudi Arabia.
Regarding the blockade of the two straits, the source explained, "It is part of the strategy of Iran and the Houthis," and "They intend to fully control the Bab el-Mandeb Strait just like the Strait of Hormuz."
The source also noted that "it is not a smart choice for Iran to use all its cards at once early in the war," suggesting that the Houthis are currently holding back rather than committing their full strength.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran has specified that the Bab el-Mandeb Strait would become a "second front" if a full-scale war with the United States were to break out.
While the Houthis are called a "pro-Iranian militant group" or "proxy force" as part of the Iran-led "Axis of Resistance," receiving funding and weapons, the general consensus is that the Houthis maintain a relatively high degree of autonomy in their decision-making.
For this reason, although a blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait aligns with Iran's strategic goal of maximizing the effects of the Strait of Hormuz blockade, some believe the Houthis may not act at the exact moment Iran desires.
This means that a blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is also a means for the Houthis to pressure their "main enemy," Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who have been in a nominal ceasefire since March 2022, saw military tensions rise on July 13 as they exchanged airstrikes.
The Telegraph analyzed that the Houthis' plan to blockade the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in cooperation with al-Shabaab is an independent strategy aimed at Saudi Arabia, but it may have coincidentally overlapped with Iran's objectives.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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