---
title: "Shadow over the Red Sea: Houthis Deploy Missiles near Bab el-Mandeb Awaiting Tehran's Order"
description: "Yemeni Houthis have deployed missiles near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait awaiting an order from Iran. Tehran is prepared to close the oil route through the Red Sea in response to US strikes on its infrastructure. This threatens to simultaneously block two key oil export routes and trigger a new wave of the energy crisis. 🛢️🚫🚀"
date: 2026-07-16T14:56:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/shadow-over-the-red-sea-houthis-deploy-missiles-near-bab-el-mandeb-awaiting-tehrans-order
tags: [yemen, iran, houthi, bab-el-mandeb, red-sea]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Shadow over the Red Sea: Houthis Deploy Missiles near Bab el-Mandeb Awaiting Tehran's Order

![Houthi fighter with a rifle and Ansar Allah flag, surrounded by other armed members of the movement, ready for action in the Red Sea area](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/16/husity-gotovy-zakryt-bab-el-mandeb-v-ozhidanii-prikaza-irana/husity-gotovy-zakryt-bab-el-mandeb-v-ozhidanii-prikaza-irana-1.webp)

A new threat to global energy security is brewing in the Middle East region. According to data obtained by Reuters on July 16, Yemeni Houthis are in a state of full combat readiness near the strategically vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The rebels are awaiting a signal from Iran, which could lead to a complete blockade of the key oil route through the Red Sea.

### Iran's Plan: A Counterstrike on Energy

According to three sources, Iranian leadership has issued a direct instruction to the Houthis to be ready to close the strait. The trigger for this operation will be a potential strike by the United States on Iran's energy infrastructure. The idea was conveyed to the rebels through anonymous channels and, apparently, has already been implemented in practice.

A source close to the Houthi leadership confirmed that preparations are complete. The group has deployed missiles and drones in the immediate vicinity of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Now they are waiting only for the order to act. Representatives of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who are already in Yemen, will play a key role in the decision to close the waterway.

### Violation of the Ceasefire and Escalation of the Conflict

The situation in the region has intensified against the backdrop of recent hostilities. The Houthis recently shelled Saudi Arabian territory with missiles, accusing the kingdom of bombing an airport. This move was a gross violation of the four-year ceasefire that previously kept the parties from open conflict.

It is important to note that the Houthis are viewed by Iran as part of the regional "Axis of Resistance." Although the rebels have not officially entered combat against the US, they have already joined the regional confrontation between Tehran and Washington. In the event the plan to close the strait is implemented, the Houthis will open a new front in this conflict.

### Threat of a Dual Energy Crisis

Experts warn of catastrophic consequences for the global economy. Any threat to shipping in the Red Sea and its gateway at Bab el-Mandeb risks significantly exacerbating the energy crisis caused by a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran.

Attacks on ships or ports in the Red Sea will lead to the simultaneous disruption of two main oil export routes in the Middle East. This will create an unprecedented challenge for global fuel supplies. According to one source, closing the strait is technically not difficult: "Anyone with a shooting rifle can interrupt shipping. You don't need complex missiles to do this".

### US Countermeasures

Against the backdrop of the growing threat, the United States has intensified its actions. On July 14, Washington launched a new wave of strikes on Iran. At the same time, the naval blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas was reinstated. The situation remains extremely tense, and the world is watching how the confrontation between Tehran and its allies against the American coalition will develop.