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Houthis Could Enter Iran War As Soon As Monday
The Iran-aligned Houthis may block the Bab al-Mandab Strait to pressure the West and support Iran, risking global oil price surges and economic strain, analysts say.
On Friday, reports said Yemen's Ansar Allah consider closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait while limiting themselves to threats since the war broke out last month.
Drawing on past tactics, the Houthis consider blocking the Bab al-Mandab to support Iran and pressure the West, citing attacks on shipping linked to Israel and the US since October 2023.
Analysts note the group's arsenal and posture: the Houthis have sophisticated missiles and drones able to strike hundreds of kilometres, while Abdul Malik al-Houthi said, 'Our fingers are on the trigger, ready to respond at any moment should developments warrant it'.
If the Bab al-Mandeb Strait is blocked, global shipping firms and tankers would reroute around Africa, raising shipping costs, fuel prices, and inflation worldwide, as the route supplies up to seven million barrels of oil daily.
Strategically, the Houthis face political and financial trade-offs, as firing at the Red Sea could end their independence from Tehran and provoke retaliation from Saudi Arabia, Gulf allies, the US, and Israel.