Houthi Gains Near Bab el-Mandeb Threaten Indian Trade and Global Shipping

Rapid territorial advances by the Iran-supported Houthis have brought the group to Perim (Mayun) Island at the entrance of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, following the withdrawal of Yemeni government troops. This follows earlier seizures of the Red Sea port of Mocha and signals a tightening grip on a vital waterway connecting the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. The Houthis are also reported to have employed Anthropic’s Claude AI model to assist missile and rocket design, indicating a new technological edge.

India, whose refineries supply Europe, worries that any sustained threat could force ships around the Cape of Good Hope, inflating freight rates and insurance premiums. Washington officials, citing former National Counterterrorism Center director Joe Kent, warn the advances could trigger broader blow-back, while Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s request for US strikes was reportedly declined by President Trump. The situation further complicates Pakistan’s security commitments to Saudi Arabia and Turkey, as any military response could strain its ties with Iran.