The Iran-backed Houthi movement is threatening Israeli-linked vessels near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, raising concerns that pressure on multiple maritime chokepoints could disrupt energy flows and global trade.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Iran-backed Houthi movement is threatening new pressure on a second major global trade chokepoint, raising concerns that instability in the Red Sea could compound ongoing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
The warning centers on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the narrow passage between Yemen and the Horn of Africa that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serves as a key approach to the Suez Canal. Newsweek described the strait as “a strategic maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the approach to the Suez Canal.”
The Houthis announced new measures targeting Israeli-linked vessels moving through the Red Sea and nearby waters, according to Newsweek. The development marks another escalation by the Yemen-based group, which has previously disrupted commercial shipping in the region.
Analysts warned that simultaneous pressure on Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz would “significantly heighten risks for global energy flows and shipping routes.”
The latest Houthi warning comes as Iranian officials and allied groups have signaled that maritime pressure could be applied across multiple corridors. A separate Newsmax report last week also highlighted concerns that Iran-linked actors were raising the possibility of risk to another key chokepoint while tensions around Hormuz continue.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important energy corridors. The narrow waterway is the main outlet for oil exports from much of the Persian Gulf, with roughly one-fifth of globally traded oil passing through it, according to international energy estimates. Any disruption there can quickly affect oil prices, shipping costs and insurance rates.
Bab el-Mandeb carries similar strategic importance for global commerce. Located between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, it forms the southern entrance to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal route, making it essential for shipping between Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
The Houthis have already shown they can disrupt shipping in and around the Red Sea. Previous attacks and threats forced some vessels to reroute, increasing transit times and costs across global supply chains.
The current threat is directed at Israeli-linked shipping, but maritime security experts have warned that disruptions in major sea lanes often affect far more than the intended targets. Shipping companies may reroute vessels, insurers may raise premiums and global markets may respond to increased risk even before a wider conflict develops.
The possibility of simultaneous instability in Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb is especially concerning because both waterways are narrow, heavily trafficked and difficult to replace as trade routes. A serious disruption in either passage can strain energy markets and cargo movement. Pressure on both at once could create broader risks for oil shipments, consumer goods, commercial vessels and supply chains already vulnerable to geopolitical shocks.
The Houthi threat also shows how Iran and its regional allies can exert influence beyond direct military confrontation. By threatening maritime corridors used by global commerce, they can create economic pressure on adversaries and raise costs for countries far beyond the immediate conflict zone.
For global shipping and energy markets, the renewed focus on Bab el-Mandeb underscores a central vulnerability: some of the world’s most important trade routes depend on a handful of narrow maritime passages. As tensions persist around Hormuz and the Red Sea, the risk of disruption to those chokepoints remains a major concern for governments, shipping firms and energy markets.
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