Iran has renewed its threats to fully block the Strait of Bab-el Mandeb, through its Houthi allies in Yemen, should US and Israel continue with their hostilities.
The threat came shortly after Trump had given his starkest warning to Iran yet, warning that a “whole civilisation will die” unless Tehran agrees to Washington’s terms to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8pm ET.
Warning of further disruptions to global oil transit, Iran, threatening to block the strait, said “if the situation gets out of control,” then Tehran will ask the Houthis for aid, “who will also close Bab el-Mandeb waterway.”
The Iranian backed Houthi rebels control a vast portion of Yemen, and have frequently attacked ships in and around the crucial waterway before, being a major source of piracy and militancy in the Red Sea.
Much like the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked by Iran in retaliation for the joint US-Israeli campaign, the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb is another major conduit for the flow of natural gas and oil products exported from the West Asia.
Iran had been weighing an assault on the Bab el-Mandeb for some time, going as early as the beginning of March, warning that it could be targeted should attacks increase.
The strait is the southern gateway from the Red Sea into the Arabian Sea and all points beyond. Much like the Hormuz, Bab-el Mandeb controls an estimated 10% of the world’s oil supply flows through the passage, which is bordered by Djibouti to the south and Yemen to the north.
While the Houthis have largely stayed out of the Iran war, the militant group began a calibrated assault on March 28, launching a missile barrage against Israel, and have been steadily increasing both their ground, and maritime activities, targeting shipping lanes and harassing US and Israeli naval forces in the Red Sea.
