Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Iran-backed Houthi forces have attempted to reassure international shipping companies after reportedly expanding their control around Yemen’s Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most important maritime gateways.
The group’s territorial gains along Yemen’s western coast have heightened concerns about the security of commercial vessels traveling through the Red Sea. However, a senior Houthi political figure said international maritime traffic would continue to operate normally and that there was no reason for the wider international community to be alarmed.
The comments followed reports that Houthi fighters had seized the coastal town of Dhubab and taken control of Perim Island, also known as Mayyun. The island is located in the center of Bab el-Mandeb and divides the strait into two navigable channels.
Perim’s position gives it considerable strategic importance. The island overlooks vessels entering or leaving the Red Sea and sits near the southern approach to the Suez Canal route. Any armed group controlling or operating from the island could potentially monitor shipping activity and threaten maritime traffic across a crucial connection between Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Hazim al-Assad, a member of the Houthi political bureau, said in comments reported by Al-Araby al-Jadeed that commercial shipping through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb remained safe and normal.
“There is no reason to worry at the international level,” he said.
The statement appeared intended to calm concerns among foreign governments, shipping companies and insurers. It also suggested that the Houthis may seek to use their new position as political leverage without immediately closing the strait or attacking all vessels passing through it.
The group has previously claimed that its maritime operations were directed only at ships linked to Israel, the United States or Saudi Arabia. Yet previous attacks and threats in the Red Sea have affected vessels with a variety of national connections, prompting several major shipping companies to avoid the route.
Even if the Houthis do not formally close Bab el-Mandeb, their presence near the strait could increase uncertainty for maritime operators. The possibility of missile attacks, drone strikes, fast-boat operations or surveillance activity could raise insurance costs and encourage carriers to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope. Such diversions add significant time and expense to journeys between Asia and Europe.
The Houthi advance came after the group seized Mokha, a strategically located port city in Yemen’s Taiz province. Government-aligned forces had used Mokha as a key military and logistical base along the western coast. Their withdrawal opened a route south toward Dhubab and the Bab el-Mandeb area.
Yemeni sources have also reported Houthi activity near the Hanish Islands in the Red Sea. The reports have not all been independently verified, but they have contributed to fears that the group is attempting to establish a broader network of positions along the coast and offshore islands.
The developments have triggered a sharp response from regional powers. Saudi Arabia supports Yemen’s internationally recognized government and has carried out airstrikes against Houthi positions. Houthi officials have accused Riyadh of launching dozens of attacks in recent days, while Saudi authorities have reported missile and drone threats against cities in the kingdom’s south.
The confrontation has also drawn attention in Washington. Reports indicate that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked U.S. President Donald Trump to authorize strikes against the Houthis, but that Trump rejected the request. U.S. officials have reportedly told their Saudi counterparts that American forces are concentrating on Iran and the security of the Strait of Hormuz rather than opening another direct military front in Yemen.
The alleged decision reflects Washington’s concern that attacking the Houthis could widen the regional conflict and expose American forces and commercial interests to further retaliation.
Iran, meanwhile, has welcomed the Houthi gains. Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, described the advance as a “brilliant victory” in a message posted on social media. He congratulated Ansarullah, another name used by the Houthi movement.
The Houthis have received military, financial and political support from Iran during their long-running conflict with Yemen’s internationally recognized government. Tehran’s backing has helped the group maintain control over large parts of northern Yemen and develop the capability to launch missiles and drones against land and maritime targets.
Iranian officials have also called for an end to what they describe as an unlawful blockade of Yemen and urged the resumption of negotiations under a United Nations-supported framework. Tehran has said it is prepared to assist diplomatic efforts, arguing that Yemen’s crisis cannot be resolved through military action alone.
The renewed fighting has caused a growing humanitarian emergency. Tens of thousands of Yemenis have reportedly been displaced since the latest escalation began, adding to the millions already affected by years of conflict, economic collapse and restricted access to food and medical assistance.
For the international shipping industry, the central question is whether the Houthis will honor their assurances or use control of territory near Bab el-Mandeb to impose selective restrictions on commercial traffic. The group may not need to shut the strait completely to create economic damage. A series of threats or isolated attacks could be enough to make the route commercially unattractive.
The Houthi advance has therefore transformed Bab el-Mandeb into a major pressure point in the wider regional conflict. While the group insists that shipping can continue safely, its growing presence near the strait has created a new risk for global trade and energy supplies.
