Informed sources reported that Iranian authorities have instructed the Houthi group in Yemen to prepare to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea should Iran’s domestic energy infrastructure face any attack by the United States. The sources clarified
that this directive comes amid military escalation and mutual threats of targeting vital facilities between Washington and Tehran. Consequently, the Houthis have reportedly reinforced their deployment of drones and missiles near the strait, awaiting potential orders. It is noteworthy that
any disruption to navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—a strategic artery for global trade and energy supplies—could trigger severe crises in oil markets and a sharp increase in shipping and maritime insurance costs.
