Translation result.
The Iran-aligned Houthi armed group in Yemen has threatened to close the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait — a strategic chokepoint in the Red Sea — if regional states intervene in the war.
Al‑Monitor reported that Mohammad Mansour, the Houthis’ deputy minister of information, warned, “If attacks targeting Iran and Lebanon intensify or if Middle Eastern countries intervene in support of Israel and the United States, we could close the strait.”
Muhammad al‑Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi political council, reiterated the possibility in an interview with Japan’s Asahi Shimbun.
He took a hard line, saying, “If the United States and Israel continue their attacks, we will escalate the fighting.” He added that Japan maintains close ties with the United States and is not viewed as an enemy, so it would not be a target, but he urged Tokyo to take a firm stance to halt any aggression against Iran.
The Bab el‑Mandeb Strait handles at least 15% of global shipping volume and is a vital trade artery. A closure would sever the link from the Red Sea to the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean. With Saudi Arabia already routing some shipments through the Red Sea to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, a shutdown of Bab el‑Mandeb would sharply curtail oil flows.
The Houthi rebels — who wield more influence inside Yemen than the internationally recognized government — have used the port city of Hodeidah as a base for shows of force.
Flying an anti‑American, anti‑Western banner, the Houthis have aligned closely with Iran as part of the so‑called “axis of resistance.” While Hamas and Hezbollah have been expending resources, the Houthis conserved strength. Last month they fired missiles toward southern Israel, signaling a more active entry into the confrontation.
Yahya Sarea, the Houthis’ spokesman, vowed to follow through on earlier pledges to support resistance fronts in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine. With threats stretching from the Strait of Hormuz to Bab el‑Mandeb, pressure on the global energy supply chain and maritime logistics markets has surged to critical levels.
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