Israeli journalist Tomer Almagor (N12) reports, citing Reuters, that Iran's leadership has directed the Houthis to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if the United States attacks power plants. The directive was reportedly discussed at the highest levels of the Iranian and Houthi leadership.
At 14:53 Jerusalem, Reuters reported that Iran's leadership had instructed the Houthis to block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if the United States strikes power plants. Israeli journalist Tomer Almagor (N12) corroborated the report, citing Reuters, minutes later. The Zioneer's initial bulletin at the same time reported the directive without specifying the trigger condition. This update, at 15:01 Jerusalem, now confirms that the directive is conditional on a US attack on power plants.
The thread began with a Reuters report at 14:53 Jerusalem, citing a single source in the Iranian regime, stating that Iran ordered the Houthis to close the strait if US strikes power plants. Almagor, citing Reuters, added a second layer of corroboration. The Zioneer's previous bulletin, also published at 14:53, reported the directive in general terms, omitting the condition. The current update specifies the trigger linking the closure to potential US strikes on power plants. The source quality remains a single regime source, with Almagor's reporting referencing the same Reuters source.
The development follows weeks of threats by Houthi and Iranian officials to close the Bab el-Mandeb and Hormuz straits. As The Zioneer reported on Monday Jul 13, a Houthi political bureau member threatened to close Bab el-Mandeb if the US pushes Saudi Arabia into war, and said Iran would shut Hormuz simultaneously. On Jun 8, a senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader warned that the 'first link' of a chain response had been activated, threatening to lock both straits. On Jul 15, The Zioneer assessed that Iran was preparing to activate its Houthi proxies to block the strait, opening a new strategic front. Additionally, on Jun 8, the Desk reported on Israel's strike on Iran and separate reports of Houthi threats to close the strait.
The report remains based on a single unnamed source in the Iranian regime, as carried by Reuters and corroborated by Almagor. The Zioneer has not independently verified the directive or its implementation. It remains unclear whether the Houthis have the capability to enforce a sustained closure of the strait, and whether the trigger condition is a discrete US strike or a broader campaign.
8 developments
- DevelopingIran preparing to use Houthis to block Bab el-Mandeb, The Zioneer assesses
- DevelopingIsrael strikes Iran, reports of Houthi threat to close Bab el-Mandeb
- DevelopingHouthi official threatens to close Bab el-Mandeb, says Iran will shut Hormuz if US pushes Saudi war
- DevelopingHouthis announce readiness to strike vessels near Bab el-Mandeb, Reuters reports
Source and signal
- Internal intake