US warns of potential threats in the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait

The US Department of Transportation’s (DoT) Maritime Administration has issued an advisory warning commercial vessels of security threats posed by the Yemen-based Houthi militants.

IMAGE: A container ship at sea. Getty Images

Since 2024, the Iran-backed Houthis have posed a severe threat to maritime security around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in response to Israel’s aggression on the Gaza Strip. The strait is another key conduit for cargo flows in the Gulf region.

The militant group has targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and the Somali Basin. It has fired missiles, drones and unidentified aerial objects (UAVs). The attacks have prompted warnings for commercial vessels to go “dark” and forced major reroutings around the Cape of Good Hope.

“From November 2023 to October 2025, there were more than 100 separate Houthi attacks on commercial vessels affecting more than 60 nations,” the US agency said.

The agency has cautioned that Houthi militants may begin targeting vessels in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait again, disrupting global shipping channels and adding to the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran.

“The Houthis continue to pose a threat to U.S. assets, including commercial vessels, in this region,” the US Maritime Administration added.

Earlier today, Houthi leader Abdel Malik al-Houthi said in a recorded address that the group stood ready to enter the conflict against the US and Israel if any development in the situation was to warrant it.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait is a vital maritime conduit for global trade, situated between the Horn of Africa and the Middle East. It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.

“U.S.-flagged commercial vessels operating in these areas [Bab al-Mandeb Strait] are advised to remain as far as possible from Yemen’s coastline without compromising navigational safety,” the US Maritime Administration said.

The Strait of Hormuz is effectively shut. Around 20% of global oil cargo volumes normally flow through the strait. Supply-related concerns have intensified, adding sustained upward pressure on oil prices. Any further constraints on key maritime chokepoints could tighten the market even more and drive prices higher.

By Aparupa Mazumder

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