After disrupting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is now signaling it may use Yemen’s Houthi allies to target the Bab el-Mandeb gateway to the Red Sea. Analysts say the move could widen the conflict beyond the Gulf, raising risks for Saudi oil exports and a large share of global shipping. A senior Yemeni official warned the Bab el-Mandeb could be closed if attacks on Yemen continue, potentially driving oil prices sharply higher. Analysts describe the danger as gradual “mission creep,” not immediate all-out war.