World · Bangladesh Bureau
Houthis consolidate control of strategic Red Sea strait
Yemen's Houthi movement has seized a key island in the Red Sea, extending their dominance over the Bab al-Mandab waterway. The takeover gives the Iranian-aligned group control of one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints.
LSN Bangladesh ·
The Houthi movement has captured a strategically important island in the Red Sea, marking a significant expansion of their territorial control in the region. According to a government official, the seizure completes the group's dominance over the Bab al-Mandab strait, a vital shipping corridor linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
The Bab al-Mandab strait is one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes, through which millions of barrels of oil and essential goods pass daily en route to Europe and beyond. Control of the waterway gives the Houthis considerable leverage over international shipping and regional geopolitics.
The Iranian-aligned militant group has gradually expanded its territorial holdings and military capabilities in recent years. The consolidation of control over the Bab al-Mandab represents a substantial shift in the balance of power in the Red Sea region.
The development is likely to heighten concerns among regional and international powers about maritime security and freedom of navigation in one of the world's most economically significant waterways. The move underscores the ongoing instability in Yemen and the broader geopolitical tensions affecting the Middle East.