**Houthis Seek to Replicate Iranian Strategy in Red Sea, Warns Yemeni Foreign Minister**
Yemen’s Houthi Movement is reportedly aiming to emulate Iran's strategic control of the Hormuz Strait by disrupting shipping routes in the Red Sea, particularly at the Bab el-Mandeb strait. This assertion was made by Yemen’s Foreign Minister-designate, Afrah Al-Zouba, during a press briefing in Riyadh on Monday. Al-Zouba emphasized that the Houthis have been emboldened by what she described as an inadequate international response to their actions.
"The Houthis want to copy the Iranian model, and this will shut down two main straits, the gateways into the Gulf and Red Sea," Al-Zouba stated, highlighting the potential implications for global shipping and regional stability. The Bab el-Mandeb strait is a critical maritime passage, linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and beyond, making any disruption in this area a significant concern for international trade.
The situation in the Red Sea has escalated, with the Houthis adopting a more aggressive stance against Saudi Arabia. This includes missile and drone attacks targeting the kingdom, alongside a declared blockade on Saudi shipping. In response, Saudi Arabia has conducted airstrikes against what it claims are Houthi military installations, asserting its commitment to safeguarding commercial shipping lanes and accusing the Houthis of acting on behalf of foreign interests.
The renewed hostilities pose a grave risk of reigniting the broader conflict in Yemen, which has already resulted in a humanitarian crisis and the deaths of hundreds of thousands since the Houthis captured the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. The Saudi-led coalition intervened shortly thereafter, aiming to restore the Yemeni government. Although a truce was established in 2022, recent cross-border fire incidents have raised concerns about a potential return to full-scale war.
Al-Zouba indicated that the Yemeni government, which receives substantial support from Saudi Arabia, is bracing for further escalation. She noted that skirmishes are ongoing along the frontlines, which stretch from the Red Sea to the Saudi border, although neither side has initiated a full offensive as of yet. "We think that this conflict now needs to come to an end, either via peaceful means, or the other way," she remarked, underscoring the urgency for resolution.
As tensions rise, the international community is closely monitoring developments in the region, particularly given the strategic importance of the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait for global trade. The situation remains fluid, with the potential for further military engagement and its implications for regional security and international maritime operations.