After Hormuz, Iran turns to Red Sea gateway as new pressure point

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.