Bab Al-Mandab is top Houthi target, key Iranian deterrent: analyst

Yemeni military analyst Brigadier General Yasser Saleh has said that the Houthi group is seeking to assert control over Yemeni islands, identifying their main objective as gaining access to the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, which he described as a strategic deterrent weapon for Iran.

Speaking to Al Arabiya FM, Saleh explained that, in his view, the Houthis serve as Iran’s strategic deterrent tool. He noted that controlling Bab Al-Mandab would give both the group and Iran leverage over the international community, enabling Tehran to strengthen its position as a key player in global peace and security issues.

The analyst pointed out that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has invested in the Houthis for 45 years, arguing that the group was established as part of a broader strategy to reach and control the strategically significant Bab Al-Mandab Strait.

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Saleh added that the strait’s importance is not only due to its geographic location, but also its potential to provide influence and leverage. He said that, in his view, possessing this asset gives Iran a means to bolster its standing on the international stage.