Red Sea flashpoint: Houthis threaten Bab el-Mandeb, echoing Hormuz tensions
Houthis’ escalating strikes on shipping through Bab el‑Mandeb raise fears the Red Sea chokepoint could become a second Strait of Hormuz, complicating U.S. and allied efforts to keep sea lanes open amid the broader U.S.–Iran conflict. Security along the strait is hampered by Yemen’s fragmentation and Houthi control of territory, making naval power alone insufficient. In response, regional coalitions and defense pacts—such as the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement and a multinational maritime coalition—seek to protect navigation, while the U.S. stresses freedom of navigation and sanctions against Iran-linked groups. Analysts caution against treating Bab el-Mandeb as a direct Hormuz analogue, noting that alternative routes exist and that securing the waterway may require ground presence and regional cooperation beyond naval force.
