AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): U.S. and Persian Gulf Arab nations are increasingly alarmed by the prospect of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait being shut down by the Houthi-led Ansarullah movement, particularly in the event of a broader escalation in U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran, especially amid rising fears of additional regional actors joining the conflict.
According to a report by Lebanon’s Al-Akhbar newspaper, the government in Sana’a previously warned Persian Gulf capitals of its high readiness to respond to any escalation, cautioning that entering the conflict would carry severe consequences.
Riyadh appears to have received Sana’a’s message and is attempting to manage the situation before it escalates, by coordinating military actions through its allies within Yemen. A Yemeni military source told Al-Akhbar that Saudi Arabia has granted permission for General Tariq al-Saleh, commander of forces stationed along western Yemen’s coast, including in Al-Mukha, to return after several months, as part of a broader military coordination plan between Riyadh and Washington to open a new front against Sana’a should it enter the war.
The official Yemeni news agency Saba also quoted Saleh as stating that his forces’ mission is to coordinate with other units and enhance military readiness to counter any potential escalation by the Houthis. He emphasized that forces along western Yemen’s coastline are prepared to secure maritime routes, safeguard shipping lanes, and confront any threats to maritime security.
In recent days, Saleh has sought to position his troops as a capable force capable of protecting oil transit routes in the Red Sea; a move typically undertaken by pro-Saudi factions to secure greater military and financial support.
Meanwhile, Sana’a is actively preparing militarily to counter any internal moves backed by Riyadh and Washington. Sources close to the Ansarullah movement confirmed that the group’s options for entering the conflict remain open and could extend beyond the sea, potentially involving widespread and impactful engagement.
These sources added that the opposing sides are well aware that Sana’a and its forces control maritime access in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and maintain surveillance over shipping movements.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sana’a government also issued a statement warning Persian Gulf states against any attempt to bring foreign forces into the region, stressing that any party entering the conflict would be the first to suffer defeat.
The ministry further warned that any escalation in the war would trigger widespread negative consequences across the region, disrupt global supply chains, drive up energy prices, and severely impact the world economy.
Analysts interpret this stance as a clear signal of the potential closure of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime chokepoint through which approximately 12% of global trade passes. The strait handles over 20,000 vessels annually, carrying around 1.6 billion tons of cargo, and facilitates the daily transit of roughly 7 million barrels of oil.
Earlier, Houthi leader Sayed Abdulmalik al-Houthi had reiterated in recent speeches that Sana’a is not immune to this confrontation, and that it is fully prepared for escalation, with decisions on the matter made within the framework of coordination among the Resistance Axis.
**************
End/ 345E
