The Iranian-backed Houthi movement in Yemen is ready to launch new attacks on shipping in the Red Sea in a sign of solidarity with Tehran, a senior group official said, quoted by Reuters, BTA reports.
Such a move would deepen the global energy and economic crisis caused by the war in the Middle East. If the Houthis open a new front, a likely target would be the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait off the coast of Yemen. It has become particularly important after the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters notes.
Although Iran-allied groups in Lebanon and Iraq are already involved in the conflict, the heavily armed Houthis have not yet become directly involved, although they have the capabilities to attack Gulf states and disrupt maritime traffic around the Arabian Peninsula.
"We are fully militarily prepared with all possible options. Determining the moment to act is up to the leadership. "We are monitoring developments and we will know when the time is right," a Houthi leader said. He added that the group believes Iran is doing well so far, but if the situation changes, they may reconsider their position. Diplomats and analysts believe the group is waiting for a moment for a coordinated intervention that would put maximum pressure on Tehran's opponents. Iran also hinted at a possible escalation in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if it is attacked on its territory or on its islands, the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim reported yesterday, citing an Iranian military official. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is the southern entrance to the Red Sea between Yemen and the African countries of Djibouti and Eritrea. It is one of the most important routes for global trade, especially for the transportation of oil and fuels from the Persian Gulf to Europe via the Suez Canal, as well as for supplies to Asia, Reuters points out.