In October, Houthi rebels in Yemen fired three times at vessels near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. These incidents are evolving into a strategic threat against Israel and other countries on the strait’s shores. This new situation, which could impact the local and regional economy, will require regional cooperation in order to maintain safe passage through the strait and safeguard maritime commerce.
The first incident took place Oct. 1, when a missile fired by the Houthi rebels in Yemen struck a United Arab Emirates vessel, causing severe damage. The missile was fired from the vicinity of the Red Sea port city of Mokha, slightly to the north of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The location of the incident and the type of missile fired are of utmost importance. The Houthis said that the anti-ship missile was a Chinese-made C-802. This is the same kind of missile fired by Hezbollah at the Israeli navy’s Ahi-Hanit vessel in Lebanese waters in July 2006. The missile caused grave damage and killed several crew members. It’s safe to assume that this time, too, the missile made its way from China to Iran and from Iran to the Houthi rebels backed and trained by the Quds Force of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
On Oct. 9, two cruise missiles were fired from the same area, north of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, at the US destroyer Mason. The ship’s countermeasures were activated, and the missiles failed to strike. On Oct. 12, the Mason was once again targeted in the same fashion, at the same place.
Even if it turns out that it was not a C-802 missile that hit the UAE vessel and was twice launched against an American destroyer, the Houthis’ very boasting about the firing indicates the rebels are supported by the IRGC. But the strategic significance of these attacks lies in their location. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, some 12 nautical miles in width, is a vital passage between the Indian Ocean and southeast Asia and the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Closure of the Strait of Hormuz only cuts off the Gulf states, including Iran, from international shipping lanes. However, the closure of Bab el-Mandeb would be a far more serious blow to nearby states — Egypt, Jordan and Israel — and to the global economy.
AL-MONITOR All-Access gives you unlimited access to all our journalism, the full Daily Briefing, exclusive interviews, premium newsletters, and live events — for less than $2/week.
