Meanwhile, Iran has reportedly instructed Yemen’s Houthi movement to prepare for possible military action in the Red Sea should the United States launch attacks targeting Iran’s critical power infrastructure, according to sources familiar with the development.
The sources disclosed that Tehran has directed the Iran-backed group to remain on high alert, while Houthi forces have allegedly deployed missiles and drones near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic maritime corridor linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and one of the world’s busiest international shipping routes.
A source close to the Houthi leadership said the group is fully prepared to carry out operations but is awaiting direct instructions before taking any action.
The reported deployment has heightened concerns over the security of global trade, as the Bab el-Mandeb Strait serves as a vital passage for commercial vessels transporting crude oil, liquefied natural gas, and other goods between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
The development comes amid already heightened tensions in the region. With the Strait of Hormuz reportedly closed, analysts warn that any disruption to shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could simultaneously affect two of the Middle East’s most important maritime oil export routes.
Energy experts say such a scenario could significantly disrupt global supply chains, push up international oil prices, and increase shipping costs, with potential ripple effects on economies around the world.
The latest reports underscore growing fears of a wider regional confrontation as diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Iran and the United States remain uncertain.
