Bab Al-Mandab emerges as focal point in Iran-Yemen standoff, analyst says

Political and military analyst Abdulwahab Baheibeh has said that the Yemeni army is maintaining military pressure on the Houthi militia, noting that Bab Al-Mandab has become a battleground for Iran, with Houthi decisions shaped in Tehran.

Speaking to Al-Hadath TV, Baheibeh explained that Houthi attacks on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia are intended to shift the conflict from inside Yemen to a broader regional stage.

He added that Iran is exerting pressure on oil and gas supply routes in the Strait of Hormuz while simultaneously increasing its presence in Bab Al-Mandab, using the Houthis as a proxy. Baheibeh noted that Saudi Arabia has made significant efforts to support the peace process in Yemen, but its patience with Houthi provocations may soon run out.

Baheibeh said Iran is seeking to strengthen its military and strategic presence in Bab Al-Mandab to influence international shipping lanes, mirroring its activities in the Strait of Hormuz. This, he argued, is aimed at raising the cost of any U.S. military action against Tehran and using the situation as leverage in negotiations with the United States.

He pointed out that the battle for Yemen’s western coast is being overseen by Iranian experts, with a delegation from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reportedly visiting the area to establish military infrastructure, including fortifications, missile and drone deployments, as well as providing the Houthis with naval mines and explosive boats.

Yemeni army maneuvers in Bab Al-Mandab

Baheibeh explained that the Yemeni armed forces are operating on two main fronts. The first focuses on operations in Bab Al-Mandab, Dhubab, and up to Mokha, with intensified targeting of Houthi positions. The second involves pressure from multiple directions, including Taiz, Kahbub, Al-Mudaraba, and Ras Al-Arah. He noted that the Houthis have yet to achieve a strategic victory on the western coast.

He added that the Houthis are amassing significant reinforcements in an attempt to seize high ground near Taiz and secure the coastline, as well as seeking to reach Kahbub and Ras Al-Arah to protect their gains in Bab Al-Mandab. Baheibeh concluded that the Yemeni armed forces are reorganizing and deploying reinforcements to regain the initiative, predicting a shift from defense to offense in the near future.