Iranian adviser: Houthi control of Bab Al-Mandab signals bigger US defeat

An Iranian military adviser to the Supreme Leader has said that Houthi control of the Bab Al-Mandab Strait represents a step toward what he described as a "greater defeat" for the United States in the region, as the strategic waterway gains importance amid ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington.

He added that the United States should have no role in regional security arrangements, stressing that Iran will help shape the future of the region’s security as tensions and developments escalate on several fronts linked to the conflict.

His remarks follow significant Houthi advances along Yemen’s western coast. Reports in September indicated that the Iran-backed Yemeni group had seized coastal areas and strategic islands near the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, strengthening their influence over one of the world’s most vital maritime passages connecting the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea.

Bab Al-Mandab has become even more significant as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz faces disruption amid US-Iran tensions, making Red Sea routes increasingly important for trade and energy supplies. Estimates suggest that around 12% of global trade passes through Bab Al-Mandab, including a major portion of container traffic between Europe and Asia via the Suez Canal.