Houthis plan to seize Bab el-Mandeb oil chokepoint, minister says
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Yemen's Houthis are planning to seize land along the coast of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to information minister Moammar al-Eryani. The plans, confirmed to AFP by three Houthi sources, cover Mokha, the Hanish Islands and Mayuun. The group has also struck Saudi tankers and the Jazan refinery, forcing Saudi Arabia to reroute part of its oil exports.
Key Facts
- Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani said the Houthis want control of Mokha, the Hanish Islands and Mayuun.
- AFP reported that three Houthi sources confirmed plans to expand presence along the western coast and control strategic Red Sea islands.
- Several Saudi tankers have been struck by the Houthis in the past two weeks.
- The Houthis attacked the Jazan refinery three times in the past month, forcing its closure at the end of July.
- Saudi Arabia rerouted part of its oil exports from Yanbu to the Suez Canal and Sidi Kerir on the Mediterranean.
Coastal Control Plan
Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani told AFP that the Houthi militia is working to create conditions for seizing control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The plan includes expanding presence along the western coast and attempting to control strategic Yemeni islands in the Red Sea. Three Houthi sources confirmed the plans to AFP. Al-Eryani said the group seeks control over the port city of Mokha, the surrounding coastline, the Hanish Islands and Mayuun. Control over those points would significantly strengthen the Houthis' hold over the waterway, according to the official.
Tanker and Refinery Attacks
Several Saudi tankers have been struck by the Houthis in the past couple of weeks. Shippers are once again avoiding the Bab el-Mandeb strait and taking the longer Asia-Europe route around Africa. The Houthis attacked the Jazan refinery three times in the past month, prompting its closure at the end of July. Saudi Arabia was forced to reroute part of its oil exports from Yanbu on the Red Sea to the Suez Canal and the Egyptian port of Sidi Kerir on the Mediterranean. The rerouting added time and costs to Saudi oil exports.
Red Sea Shipping Context
Earlier this year the Houthis announced a blockade on Saudi vessels in the Red Sea. The group fired at any vessel with Israeli or Western ownership, causing havoc in international trade and pushing oil prices higher. Saudi Arabia is fighting the Houthis alongside Yemeni government forces, while the Houthis have ties with Iran. A couple of years ago the Houthis disrupted traffic in the Red Sea strait in an attempt to force Israel to stop bombing Gaza.
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Houthis plan to seize Bab el-Mandeb oil chokepoint, minister says
