Bab al-Mandab strait: Iran’s Houthi allies enter the conflict, raising fears over key trade route

Iran has threatened to disrupt shipping in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical waterway connecting the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea and Suez Canal, with assistance from its Houthi allies in Yemen. The strait is a key global trade chokepoint; any sustained blockade would threaten European energy supplies and Asian imports flowing through one of the world's busiest shipping routes. Unlike disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which primarily impact Asian markets, control of the Bab al-Mandab would directly affect European economies and transatlantic commerce. The move signals deepening Iranian-Houthi coordination in the region and raises the stakes for international shipping and energy security. The threat comes as geopolitical tensions remain elevated in the Middle East and surrounding waters.