Houthis Dig 20-Kilometre Trench Network around Strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Houthi fortifications on high ground could complicate counterattacks and provide vantage points overlooking key coastal routes
ADEN: Yemen’s Houthi forces are strengthening their military positions on high ground overlooking the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, constructing defensive earthworks and fortifications as they consolidate their recent territorial gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
The developments have raised fresh concerns over the security of one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, particularly after the Houthis made rapid advances along the western Yemeni coastline and captured several strategically important areas near the strait. Reuters reported that the group’s recent offensive has tightened its control over approaches to Bab al-Mandab, while analysts say the new positions could give the Houthis additional military leverage over coastal routes and shipping.
The Bab al-Mandab Strait, a narrow passage between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean. Its location makes it a crucial route for vessels travelling between the Indian Ocean, the Suez Canal and European markets. Disruption to the waterway can force ships to take longer routes around the Cape of Good Hope, increasing sailing times, fuel costs and insurance expenses.
Defensive positions overlook key maritime corridor
The newly established Houthi earthworks are being developed on elevated terrain, giving fighters positions from which they can monitor surrounding coastal areas and approaches to the strait.
Military analysts say such fortifications could serve several purposes. They could help the Houthis defend recently captured territory against counterattacks by Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, while elevated positions could also provide observation points for monitoring movements along the coast.
The terrain is particularly important because much of the newly captured territory consists of exposed coastal areas. Analysts cited by Al Jazeera said the Houthis are compensating for the vulnerability of their coastal positions by moving onto higher ground and establishing firing positions overlooking areas they now control.
The fortifications could also complicate any attempt by government-aligned forces to launch a counteroffensive aimed at regaining coastal cities and strategic approaches to Bab al-Mandab.
Potential threat to vessels
The new positions are significant because of their proximity to international shipping lanes.
The Houthis already possess a range of weapons that have previously been used against ships and coastal targets, including drones, artillery, anti-ship systems and missiles. Analysts say that positioning such weapons closer to Bab al-Mandab could reduce the distance between Houthi launch sites and vessels passing through the waterway.
A recent assessment by the Critical Threats Project said the capture of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and Perim Island has placed Houthi forces within closer range of shipping lanes. It noted that artillery, tactical drones and other systems could potentially be used against vessels if the Houthis consolidate their new positions.
Reports of naval mines and other explosive devices being positioned in the broader coastal area have added another layer of concern. The Houthis have previously used mines and explosive devices as part of their military tactics, according to a UN panel assessment cited by Reuters.
However, the presence of defensive positions does not by itself mean that commercial shipping will immediately come under attack. Analysts have noted that the Houthis would still face logistical and operational challenges in sustaining weapons and personnel along the newly captured coastline.
Houthi gains reshape military map
The latest developments follow a rapid Houthi offensive along Yemen’s western coast.
Reuters reported that the group recently advanced through the southern Tihama region, capturing the strategic port city of Mocha and other parts of the Red Sea coastline. The offensive has brought Houthi forces closer to the entire length of the Yemeni side of the Bab al-Mandab area.
The group has also taken control of strategically important islands, including Perim, which sits directly in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Control of coastal areas and islands gives the Houthis additional geographic positions from which they could potentially monitor or threaten maritime traffic.
The developments have alarmed Saudi Arabia and its Yemeni allies, who face the challenge of defending a large and exposed stretch of coastline while attempting to prevent further Houthi advances.
Al Jazeera reported that maintaining control over the newly captured territory will itself be difficult because the area stretches from Hodeidah toward Mocha and Bab al-Mandab, requiring substantial forces and continuous supplies.
Wider implications for global trade
The strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab extends far beyond Yemen.
The waterway is part of the maritime route connecting the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean through the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Oil, fuel, manufactured goods and other commodities routinely pass through the wider corridor.
Any sustained disruption could therefore affect shipping schedules, transportation costs and energy markets. Previous Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping caused major commercial carriers to divert vessels around southern Africa, adding considerable distance to journeys between Asia and Europe.
The current situation is particularly sensitive because security concerns have also affected other major maritime routes in the region. The combination of instability around Bab al-Mandab and disruptions involving the Strait of Hormuz could place additional pressure on global energy and shipping networks.
Reuters reported that the Houthis’ recent territorial gains have given the group greater potential leverage over the Bab al-Mandab Strait at a time when regional tensions remain exceptionally high.
Risk of a broader military escalation
The fortified positions could also become important if Saudi-backed Yemeni forces attempt to reverse the Houthi gains.
Government forces would have to contend with defensive positions established on elevated terrain, while the Houthis could use the coastal areas and surrounding high ground to slow or disrupt counterattacks.
At the same time, Saudi Arabia has already carried out strikes in support of government-aligned forces, according to Reuters. The escalation has therefore created the possibility of a renewed and wider conflict along Yemen’s western coastline.
For international shipping companies, the central concern is whether the Houthis will use their newly consolidated positions to resume or expand attacks on commercial vessels.
The group has previously demonstrated its ability to employ drones, missiles, explosive boats and other weapons against shipping. Its recent territorial expansion could allow some of these systems to be deployed closer to the maritime corridor than during previous campaigns.
For now, the defensive earthworks appear to be part of a broader effort by the Houthis to consolidate their territorial gains and prepare for possible counterattacks. But their location around one of the world’s most strategically important waterways means even defensive preparations could have consequences well beyond Yemen’s battlefield.
The strengthening of Houthi positions around Bab al-Mandab therefore adds another layer of uncertainty to an already fragile regional security environment, with the potential to affect Yemen’s war, Saudi Arabia’s security calculations and the movement of international commercial and energy shipments through the Red Sea.
