The Israeli Arabic-language outlet Abu Ali Express posted a cryptic analysis stating that the Houthi movement maintains control over the Bab el-Mandeb strait, despite what it described as a near-miss incident. The single-sentence message included no further details or evidence.
The Israeli Arabic-language outlet Abu Ali Express published a cryptic post on Friday afternoon stating that the Houthi movement retains control of the Bab el-Mandeb strait despite what it described as a "near-miss" incident. The single-sentence message offered no specifics on the alleged incident or the basis for the assessment. The post comes amid a series of Houthi advances in the region reported in recent days.
The Zioneer's coverage of the Houthi push toward Bab el-Mandeb has tracked the group's steady advance since Thursday morning: at 04:31 Jerusalem on Thursday, initial reports cited by Israeli media indicated Houthi forces had captured the strategic port of Mocha. Those reports were later corroborated by Yemeni government sources confirming the capture to Reuters. Subsequent updates documented the Houthis advancing south along the Red Sea coast, reaching the strategic island of Perim (Mayyun) at the narrowest point of the strait, and ultimately claiming final control of the waterway. Footage attributed to the group showed its presence on the islands. The thread shows an evolution in source quality from unverified claims to on-record confirmation by Yemeni officials.
The Houthi maritime campaign has been ongoing for weeks. As The Zioneer reported on Aug 5, a Houthi unmanned surface vessel sank a ship off the coast of Yemen, underscoring the threat to commercial shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb region. The group's territorial gains along the coast have tightened its grip on the strategic chokepoint.
No further details about the alleged near-miss incident — whether it involved a vessel, drone, or other military asset — have been provided. The Abu Ali Express post appears to be an analytical assessment rather than a factual report, and all particulars remain unverified.
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