Iran-backed rebels are ready to join the war against the US and Israel, Iranian state-affiliated news agency Tasnim claimed, citing “an informed source.”
The Houthis, also known as Yemeni Ansarullah, are ready to take control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which would be an “easy task,” the report said, citing the unnamed source.
The rebel group has already caused major disruption in the Red Sea since October 2023, firing on hundreds of Israeli targets in retaliation for Israel’s attacks on Gaza.
It has also targeted ships linked to the US and UK, impeding the flow of global trade. Efforts to repel the rebels failed to halt the attacks.
The US and other Western navies have been escorting ships through the sea, but if the Houthis decide to take control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait it would likely further limit their options.
The Bab al-Mandab Strait is a vital passageway between the Mediterranean and the Arabian Sea, linking Europe to Africa and Asia in oceans beyond.
