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Israel is raising its naval alert level as Iran-backed Houthi fighters gain ground around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key Red Sea shipping route vital to Israeli trade, local media reported.
The Houthis have expanded along Yemen’s southern Red Sea coast after forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognized government withdrew from Perim, also known as Mayyun Island, at the strait’s entrance.
Israeli Navy commander Vice Adm. Eyal Harel has ordered higher readiness across the service, with additional forces deployed at sea to protect strategic assets and Israeli shipping, Yedioth Ahronoth reported. However, Israel is not expected to intervene unless it comes under direct attack.
The Houthi advance has heightened concerns over commercial shipping through Bab el-Mandeb, which narrows to about 18 kilometers (11 miles) at some points. Israeli assessments cited by the report indicate that the Houthis could use missiles, including Kornet anti-tank guided missiles, as well as explosive-laden boats to target passing vessels.
The stronger Houthi position around Bab el-Mandeb has also raised concerns that, together with Iran’s influence around the Strait of Hormuz, it could give Tehran greater leverage over major maritime routes. About 98% of Israel’s imports by volume arrive by sea, according to the report.
Bab el-Mandeb is particularly exposed because of its narrow geography. The Red Sea near Yemen’s Hodeidah is about 160 to 260 kilometers wide, while the strait narrows to roughly 18 kilometers. By comparison, the Strait of Hormuz is about 55 kilometers wide.
Israeli security officials have also raised concerns over what they see as an erosion of regional deterrence, pointing to the limited resistance faced by the Houthis as they expanded their position.
Some officials have reportedly questioned why Saudi Arabia, Yemen’s internationally recognized government and other regional actors have not responded more forcefully to the Houthi advance.
The Houthis’ growing position around Bab el-Mandeb follows years of conflict in Yemen and a broader expansion of their involvement in regional hostilities since late 2023. The group has launched attacks on Israel and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, while renewed fighting has raised fears of a return to full-scale conflict in Yemen.
Israel’s defense establishment increasingly views maritime security as a central national-security concern, with the potential challenge stretching from the Mediterranean through the Red Sea and into some of the world’s most strategically important shipping lanes, the report noted.
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