International Reports: Tehran Directs Armed Groups to Prepare for Bab al-Mandab Closure Amid Rising Escalation

Sources reported that Tehran has requested the Houthi group in Yemen to prepare for a potential closure of the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait in the Red Sea, in the event of any U.S. military strikes targeting energy infrastructure inside Iran. Reports quoting official sources indicated that these directives come amid escalating military tensions and mutual threats between Washington and Tehran regarding vital installations. Sources noted that the group has already reinforced its deployment of drones and missiles near the strait in anticipation of further orders. The Bab al-Mandab Strait is one of the world's most critical maritime corridors, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serving as a major artery for global trade and energy supplies between Asia and Europe. Any disruption to navigation, compounded by ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, could severely impact global oil markets and raise maritime shipping and insurance costs.