Yemen's Foreign Minister Designate Afrah al-Zouba has accused the Houthi rebels of attempting to mirror Iran's strategy of exerting control over the Strait of Hormuz by targeting shipping in the Bab al-Mandab strait.
The remarks, reported by The Jerusalem Post, highlight a strategic shift in how the Iran-aligned militia may be framing its ongoing campaign against international vessels in the Red Sea corridor.
The assertion that the Houthis are seeking to replicate the Iranian model of chokepoint leverage raises concerns about the persistence of shipping risks in the region.
While recent market data showed Brent crude stabilizing as immediate threats in the Strait of Hormuz appeared to recede, the potential for renewed or expanded disruption in the Bab al-Mandab remains a critical variable for energy traders and logistics operators.
The Bab al-Mandab is a vital artery for global trade, particularly for oil shipments from the Gulf to Europe and Asia.
This development comes against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical signaling from Tehran, which has previously indicated it could leverage its Yemeni proxy to disrupt maritime traffic beyond the already constricted Strait of Hormuz.