Yemeni Forces Expose Iranian Plan to Seize Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Anti-Houthi forces in Yemen have uncovered an IRGC plan to seize the Bab el-Mandeb strait, as regional tensions and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia escalate.
Iranian Plan to Seize Bab el-Mandeb Exposed
Anti-Houthi forces operating on Yemen's western coast claim to have uncovered an Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) plan to gradually take control of the Bab el-Mandeb strait and the Al-Hodeidah area, Saudi-owned Al Hadath reported on Wednesday.
According to the media wing of the National Resistance forces, the intelligence was recovered from a laptop belonging to a captured Houthi commander. The captive was described as an operations officer within the organization, though his identity and the circumstances of his capture were not disclosed.
Saudi-Houthi Tensions Escalate
The revelation comes amid renewed hostilities between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan reportedly conveyed a Saudi warning to Tehran demanding that it restrain its Houthi allies following intensified attacks on the kingdom.
On Tuesday, the Houthis launched missile and drone attacks targeting the Khamis Mushait air base and oil infrastructure in southern Saudi Arabia, injuring 73 people and causing fires at petroleum facilities. The Saudi-led coalition reported continued strikes on Abha, Jizan, and Khamis Mushait for a second consecutive day.
Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki stated that the Houthis continue to target national assets and infrastructure, vowing that the kingdom will respond responsibly to protect its sovereignty and citizens.
Strategic Implications for Global Shipping
While Iran denies directing Houthi operations, regional sources indicate that Tehran has encouraged the attacks and deployed IRGC commanders to Yemen.
The Bab el-Mandeb strait is of vital global strategic importance, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serving as a crucial gateway for international shipping toward the Suez Canal.
