Yemen’s Houthi Movement seeks to emulate Iran’s strategy in the Hormuz Strait by disrupting shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb, according to Yemen’s Foreign Minister-designate, Afrah Al-Zouba. Speaking in Riyadh, she noted that the Houthis aim to close two critical straits, impacting access to the Gulf and Red Sea. This escalation marks a new front in the conflict involving Iran, with the Houthis intensifying attacks on Saudi Arabia through missile and drone strikes, while also imposing a blockade on Saudi shipping.
In response, Saudi Arabia has conducted airstrikes targeting Houthi military sites and pledged to safeguard commercial shipping routes, accusing the Houthis of advancing foreign interests. This renewed conflict threatens to reignite the devastating war in Yemen, which has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives since the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014, prompting Saudi intervention.
Despite a truce established in 2022, recent hostilities have raised concerns about a return to full-scale warfare. Al-Zouba indicated that Yemen’s government, backed by Saudi Arabia, is bracing for further escalation along the frontline, though neither side has launched a significant offensive yet. She emphasized the urgent need for a resolution, whether through diplomacy or other means.
