Yemen's internationally recognised government has accused the Houthi movement of attempting to replicate Iran's strategy of controlling the Strait of Hormuz by seeking greater influence over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea.
Speaking in Riyadh on Monday, Yemen's Foreign Minister-designate, Afrah al-Zouba, said the Iran-backed Houthis aim to control one of the world's busiest maritime routes, warning that such a move could disrupt global trade and threaten regional security.
"The Houthis want to copy the Iranian model, which could effectively place two major international waterways under hostile influence," al-Zouba said.
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, serving as a vital route for global shipping. An estimated 30 percent of the world's container traffic and up to 15 percent of global trade passes through the Red Sea.
Al-Zouba blamed what he described as an inadequate international response for emboldening the Houthis, noting that commercial shipping through the Red Sea has already declined significantly amid growing security concerns.
The warning comes as fighting intensifies between Houthi forces and Yemen's government. Earlier this month, the Houthis declared a maritime blockade targeting Saudi-linked shipping and launched missile and drone attacks against the kingdom, prompting Saudi air strikes on Houthi-controlled positions, including the strategic port city of Hodeidah.
Although clashes have increased along front-line areas, al-Zouba said government forces have not launched a major offensive but are prepared for further escalation.
Yemen's civil war, which began in 2014 after the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, with many deaths linked to famine, disease, and other humanitarian consequences of the prolonged conflict. Despite a 2022 truce, the Houthis continue to control large parts of northern Yemen, including the capital.
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