Israel boosts naval alert as Houthi advances threaten Bab el‑Mandeb strait

Israel has increased its naval forces’ readiness amid growing concern over Houthi advances near the strategic Bab el‑Mandeb Strait, according to a report by Yedioth Ahronoth.

The newspaper says Israel’s security establishment is closely watching the situation after the Houthis expanded their presence along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and solidified their position around the vital waterway.

Assessments cited by the paper indicate that the Yemeni government’s withdrawal from Perim (Mayyun) Island, at the strait’s entrance, has significantly enhanced the Houthis’ ability to affect maritime traffic.

The development has heightened Israeli worries about possible threats to commercial shipping through the strait, which narrows to roughly 18 kilometers (11 miles) in places.

Israeli analysts warn that the Houthis could employ missiles and explosive‑laden boats to target vessels passing through the strait.

The report also notes internal criticism within Israel’s security circles regarding what officials describe as an erosion of deterrence and the inability of regional actors to stop the Houthi push.

Amid the mounting concerns, Israeli Navy commander Vice Admiral Eyal Harel ordered a heightened state of readiness for naval units and command‑and‑control centers, with additional forces deployed at sea, the paper reported.

Israeli officials also fear that a stronger Houthi foothold around Bab el‑Mandeb, coupled with Iranian influence near the Strait of Hormuz, could extend Tehran’s leverage over key maritime routes in the region.

Approximately 98 percent of Israel’s imports arrive by sea, the newspaper added.

Yemen had experienced a relative calm since April 2022 after nearly 12 years of war between government forces backed by a Saudi‑led coalition and the Iranian‑backed Houthis, who seized Sanaa and large parts of the country in 2014.

Since late 2023, following the start of Israel’s conflict in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis have become more involved in regional hostilities, launching attacks on Israel and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, while renewed fighting raises fears of a return to full‑scale conflict in Yemen.

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