According to Telegram channels Zuf Efrati and 301 Arab World, the Houthi movement has completed its seizure of the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The analysis warns of significant economic repercussions for Israel's Eilat port and Saudi Arabia, and suggests regional security implications including a potential Houthi advance into Saudi territory.
In the latest development, the Houthi movement has claimed final control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to Telegram channels Zuf Efrati and 301 Arab World. The claim, attributed to these non-official sources, lists seven strategic implications — including higher goods prices, damage to Israel's Eilat port, a blow to the Saudi economy and credibility, and the possibility of a broader conflict against the 'octopus head' (a reference to Iran). The analysis also suggests an effect on the proposed overland peace railway.
This claim caps a rapid Houthi offensive along Yemen's Red Sea coast that The Zioneer has tracked since Thursday Sep 10, 04:31 Jerusalem. That morning, the Iran-backed group captured the strategic port city of Mocha and the nearby Al-Omari base, advancing within 30 km of the strait. By later that day, Yemeni government sources confirmed to Reuters that Houthi forces had reached Perim Island at the narrowest point of the Bab el-Mandeb, giving effective control over the southern gateway. The thread shows that initial reports from Israeli media (N12) were followed by Reuters confirmation, and later by additional details from Yemeni officials — a clear evolution from unverified claims to on-record corroboration.
As The Zioneer has reported in its background coverage, the Houthi movement — a key Iranian proxy in the 'Axis of Resistance' — has increasingly targeted maritime traffic in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, including a fatal attack on a Saudi vessel in August. The group's capture of the entire western Yemen coast in recent weeks has been accompanied by Saudi preparations for a potential sea and ground offensive, as reported on Jul 31. The new claim of final control, if confirmed, would represent a strategic escalation, potentially enabling the Houthis to block global shipping with basic military means.
Verification remains limited. The claim originates from non-official Telegram channels, and no statement has been issued by the Houthi movement's official spokespeople or by regional governments. The situation continues to develop, and The Zioneer will follow any official confirmations or denials.
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