Houthis Threaten to Tighten Grip on Bab el-Mandeb, Raising Fears of a Global Trade Crisis

Mogadishu (WDN) – Mounting reports suggest Yemen’s Houthi movement is preparing to escalate attacks and tighten restrictions in the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a development that could send shockwaves through global shipping, energy markets, and economies heavily dependent on maritime trade.

According to regional reports, Houthi leaders are considering expanding their operations in response to increasing U.S. military pressure and economic sanctions targeting Iran, their principal regional ally. The group has repeatedly warned that if Washington and its allies intensify military operations against Iran or Yemen, it will broaden its list of targets to include commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb waterway.

The threat has alarmed shipping analysts because Bab el-Mandeb is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints. The narrow passage links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, serving as the gateway to the Suez Canal and one of the busiest shipping corridors connecting Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

An estimated 10–15% of global seaborne trade passes through the strait, including substantial volumes of crude oil, refined petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, and manufactured goods.