On July 28, Yemen's internationally recognized Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba said the Houthi movement is seeking to replicate Iran's model in the Strait of Hormuz to control shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb on the Red Sea.
Speaking at the Yemeni embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, al-Zouba said: "The Houthis want to replicate the Iranian model, and this would close the two main straits, the gateways to the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea." She warned that due to insufficient international response, Houthi activities in the region have become bolder.
The Bab al-Mandeb connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean, similar to the Strait of Hormuz. About 30% of global container traffic passes through the Red Sea, accounting for 12-15% of world trade. Yemen's geography allows whoever controls the western part of the country to exert significant influence over traffic through Bab al-Mandeb.
Data shows the number of vessels passing through the Red Sea is decreasing, with only 11 cargo ships crossing on Sunday. Al-Zouba's comments come amid rising tensions between the Houthis, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen's internationally recognized government.
In early July, the Houthis declared a maritime blockade on the Red Sea targeting ships to and from Saudi Arabia, firing missiles and drones toward the kingdom. In response, Riyadh conducted airstrikes on the Houthi-held port city of Hodeidah.
This marks the biggest escalation since the 2022 ceasefire, occurring against a backdrop of increased U.S. attacks on Iran. Al-Zouba said the Saudi-backed Yemeni government is ready for an escalation, with fire exchanged along the front lines between Houthi and government-controlled territory, though no large-scale assault has occurred.
Earlier this month, nearly 20 fighters from both sides were killed in clashes around Hodeidah.
The Yemen war erupted in 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa. The then-president fled to Riyadh. A Saudi-led Arab coalition launched a military campaign from 2015 until the 2022 ceasefire. As of 2026, the Houthis still control the capital and many regions. About 377,000 Yemenis had been killed by early 2022, mostly due to indirect effects of war such as famine and disease.
