Houthis “Fully Military Ready” To Resume Attacks On Key Shipping Routes Amid Middle East Tensions

delta tankers — Screengrab from YT video posted by Times News

Yemen’s Houthi movement has said it is ready to launch attacks if needed as the Middle East conflict involving Iran continues to grow.

A Houthi leader told Reuters that the group is fully prepared militarily and is closely watching how the situation develops before deciding its next move.

The warning comes at a time when Iran has already tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil routes.

If the Houthis step in, attention is likely to shift to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a narrow passage near Yemen that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and controls access to the Suez Canal.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait is about 18 miles (29 km) wide at its narrowest point, with two channels used for ships entering and leaving the Red Sea.

It is a key route for global trade, especially for crude oil and fuel moving from the Gulf to Europe through the Suez Canal or Egypt’s SUMED pipeline. It is also used for cargo heading towards Asia, including Russian oil shipments.

So far, the Houthis have not joined the current conflict involving the United States and Israel, but they have made it clear that they could act depending on how the war progresses.

The Houthi leader said decisions on timing would be taken by the leadership and that the group is monitoring developments closely. He also said that if the situation changes and Iran needs support, the group would reassess and could take action.

Analysts and diplomats believe the Houthis may be waiting for the right moment to enter the conflict in coordination with Iran to increase pressure.

One possible trigger could be the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which would shift more shipping traffic towards the Red Sea, making Bab al-Mandab a more important and vulnerable route.

Iranian-linked sources have also suggested that if attacks are carried out on Iranian territory or its islands, a new front could open in the Bab al-Mandab area.

The Houthis have carried out similar attacks before. After the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, which led to the war in Gaza, the Houthis began targeting ships in the Red Sea, saying they were acting in support of Palestinians.

During that period, they launched more than 130 ballistic missiles and several drones at Israel and maritime targets. One of those attacks in July 2024 killed a civilian in Tel Aviv and injured others, which led to Israel carrying out its first strikes in Yemen.

Since then, Israel has attacked Houthi positions around 19 times using its air force and navy, despite the distance of about 1,800 km.

The attacks on shipping during that period caused major disruption. Many vessels avoided the Red Sea route, and traffic through the Suez Canal dropped.

Ships were forced to take longer routes around southern Africa, increasing costs and delays. The Houthis later stopped their attacks after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in October 2025.

A member of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council said the Houthis are likely to act when they see that Iran needs them the most.

If attacks resume in the Red Sea while the Strait of Hormuz is also under pressure, it could affect two of the most important shipping routes in the world at the same time. This would increase risks for vessels, raise freight and insurance costs, and put pressure on global oil supply and trade.

References: Reuters, Times of Israel

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