The internationally recognized Yemeni government has urged world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly to pay attention to the threats posed by Iranian-backed Houthis in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This strait is one of the busiest maritime routes in the world, with about 12 percent of global trade passing through it.
Houthi movements in strategic areas
The Houthis, who have controlled Yemen's capital, Sana'a, and parts of the northern country for over a decade, have advanced towards Yemen's coasts this month, capturing the important port city of Mokha and several key islands in the Red Sea. These movements enable them to have better oversight of ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
This group has declared a naval blockade on Saudi ships and denied any threats to commercial shipping in the Red Sea. However, Abdullah Abdulqader Al-Alimi Bazar, the Vice President of the Yemeni government, warned at the UN General Assembly that assurances from the Houthis should not be trusted and broader threats must be considered.
Economic and military consequences of insecurity in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Al-Alimi Bazar emphasized that the Houthis' use of shipping security as a tool for extortion poses a threat not only to Yemen but to the entire global economy. He called on the international community to prevent the entry of weapons and technologies into the hands of the Houthis to maintain security in the strait.
In recent years, the UN Security Council has imposed arms sanctions against the Houthis and travel bans on their leaders and senior officials. However, Iran has denied any military assistance to the Houthis, while numerous reports indicate the discovery of Iranian weapons and components in various shipments to Yemen.
Recently, the Houthis claimed to have fired dozens of ballistic missiles and drones towards Saudi Arabia's Jazan province. A Saudi military spokesman, General Turki Al-Maliki, announced that the country successfully destroyed six ballistic missiles targeting the port of Yanbu and the city of Taif.
The latest clashes in Yemen pose the risk of a return to full-scale civil war. This war has so far killed over 150,000 people and displaced millions from their homes. Currently, nearly 130,000 people have recently been displaced due to these clashes, and hundreds have lost their lives.
The Yemeni government believes that the current situation, especially near the important maritime corridor of the Red Sea and the Houthis' efforts to blockade Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, could seriously harm global markets. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait has since become a key point, gaining more importance given Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz.
In 2022, a ceasefire was established, but with the onset of the Israel-Hamas war in 2023, the Houthis continued their attacks on Red Sea shipping. These attacks continued until the U.S. airstrikes in 2025.
On Thursday, Al-Alimi Bazar thanked Saudi Arabia and the United States for their decisive approach in this regard. Saudi Arabia has recently sought military support from its allies again, although the United States has not yet returned to its military commitments.
