The Houthi movement in Yemen says it has completed preparations to attack ships near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, according to Reuters. The statement follows a report earlier today from a source close to the group that preparations were complete and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would decide the timing. The Houthis' own announcement did not mention the IRGC's role.
The Houthi movement in Yemen has publicly announced that it has completed preparations to attack vessels near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, Reuters reported on Thursday afternoon. The statement, attributed to the group's leadership, marks the first time the Houthis themselves have confirmed their readiness for such operations. Earlier on Thursday, a source close to the group told Reuters that preparations were complete and that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) would decide on the timing of any attack. The Houthis' own announcement did not address the IRGC's role.
The development follows a series of Houthi threats and attacks in the Red Sea area, which The Zioneer has covered extensively. In recent weeks, the group has claimed attacks on vessels and has been assessed by analysts to be acting under Iranian direction. The Bab el-Mandeb strait is a key maritime chokepoint, and any disruption there would have significant implications for global shipping and regional security.
The Houthis have not specified when the attacks might occur, and no specific vessels have been named as targets. The announcement is seen as an escalation in the group's rhetoric, coming amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US-led coalition in the region. The Zioneer reported earlier today that Saudi Arabia is taking the threat with utmost seriousness, according to regional sources.
2 developments
- DevelopingAssessments: Houthis may conduct operational activity in Bab el-Mandeb area
- StrongHouthis attack vessel in Bab el-Mandeb strait
- DevelopingIran preparing to use Houthis to block Bab el-Mandeb, The Zioneer assesses
- StrongIran instructs Houthis to block Bab el-Mandeb if US strikes Iranian power plants, Reuters reports
Source and signal
- Internal intake