Yemen's Houthi Group Considers Blocking Mandeb Strait to Support Iran

Yemen's Houthi political bureau member Mohammed al-Bukhaiti stated that the group might block the Mandeb Strait in support of Iran, according to Russian news agency reports on March 20. According to Jin10, al-Bukhaiti mentioned that the Houthis are considering all possible options to aid Iran in resisting military strikes from the United States and Israel. If the closure of the Mandeb Strait becomes necessary, the Houthis plan to target only vessels from countries involved in attacks on Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine. The Mandeb Strait, connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, is a crucial maritime corridor linking the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean, often referred to as the 'water corridor' connecting the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa.