Yemen’s interior minister says Iran seeks to militarize Bab el-Mandeb
Yemen’s Interior Minister Major General Ibrahim Haidan said that, in his view, Iran seeks to establish long-term military influence in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, on adjacent islands and along the coast through its support for the Houthis. In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, he claimed that specialists linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are helping the Houthis develop military capabilities and build fortifications, bases, operational points, and facilities for missiles, drones, and remotely controlled boats.
According to Haidan, the threat lies not only in the current situation but also in the military infrastructure allegedly being created for future use. He suggested that Tehran may be seeking to replicate in the Bab el-Mandeb area a model of “militarization of maritime corridors” that, in his assessment, Iran has applied in the Strait of Hormuz.
Islands and maritime routes
Haidan said that Mayyun Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait area could assume a military role similar to that of Iran’s Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. According to him, the Zuqar and Hanish islands, as well as the highlands and the Red Sea coast, could become components of an integrated military system if the Houthis strengthen their positions in the strait.
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The minister also claimed that Houthi control over strategic areas could expand Iran’s ability to use maritime routes and smuggling networks to transport weapons, equipment, and specialists. He stated that the Houthis may have ties with armed groups in the Horn of Africa, including the Somali group Al-Shabaab.
Security measures
According to the publication, during an offensive from September 3 to 11, the Houthis captured Hays, Al-Khawkhah, Mocha and its port, after which they advanced toward Bab el-Mandeb, Mayyun Island, and other Yemeni islands in the southern Red Sea. Following these events, according to Haidan, the authorities raised the level of readiness in Aden, Lahij Governorate, and rear areas.
Yemen’s defense and interior ministries are coordinating actions through a joint operations center to prevent the infiltration of operatives and cells and the use of people’s movement to disrupt security, the minister said. He also stressed that the coast guard urgently needs specialized assistance, including maritime surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, tracking systems, patrol boats, modern equipment, and enhanced intelligence capabilities to counter smuggling.
