Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping raise the Strait of Hormuz fears

Key Points:

• Iran-backed Houthis have intensified attacks on shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, raising concerns about the waterway becoming a strategic chokepoint similar to the Strait of Hormuz, though Iran's influence there is indirect via its Houthi allies in Yemen.
• The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is critical for global energy and commercial shipping, linking the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea to the Red Sea and Suez Canal, but Yemen’s ongoing civil conflict and fractured control complicate security efforts beyond naval presence alone.
• A recent Houthi attack on the Egyptian cargo ship Tihamah killed six people, marking the first fatalities in such strikes since the U.S.-Iran conflict escalated in February 2024, highlighting the growing risk to international shipping and regional stability.
• Saudi Arabia is responding by fostering regional defense cooperation through the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement with Turkey and Pakistan, and by leading a multinational maritime coalition to secure the Bab el-Mandeb and surrounding waterways.
• The U.S. remains focused on protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and disrupting Iranian support to the Houthis, emphasizing partnership with Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s recognized government to counter the escalating maritime threats.