Israel is closely tracking the rapid Houthi advance around the Bab el‑Mandab Strait as concerns grow over the expanding threat in the Red Sea.
In response, Israeli Navy commander Vice Adm. Eyal Harel ordered the service to raise its readiness and reinforce its forces in the region to prevent surprises in the maritime arena. Israel is not currently expected to intervene militarily unless it comes under direct attack.
In recent days, the Iran‑backed Houthis have seized additional towns along Yemen’s southern Red Sea coast and effectively taken control of the Bab el‑Mandab, one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. The shift followed the withdrawal of forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognized government from Perim (Mayyun) Island, which sits at the southern entrance to the strait. Their departure handed the Houthis a strategic position from which they can exert influence over the waterway.
Officials in Jerusalem describe the development as troubling, though Israel is not expected to intervene unless it comes under direct attack. Within Israel’s defense establishment, the Houthi takeover is viewed as far more than a local Yemeni issue. Control of Bab el‑Mandab could threaten global shipping and pose significant risks to Israel, which relies heavily on maritime trade.
Ynet reported that the principal threat to freedom of navigation stems from the geography of the area now under Houthi control. While the Red Sea near the port city of Hodeidah is between 160 and 260 kilometers (100 to 160 miles) wide, the waterway narrows to just 18 kilometers (11 miles) at Bab el-Mandeb—approximately one-third the width of the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has disrupted maritime traffic.
In such a confined waterway, civilian vessels can be spotted with the naked eye. The Houthis could potentially attack them using relatively simple weapons, including Kornet anti-tank missiles and explosive-laden boats, without requiring advanced radar systems.
Israeli officials warn that Houthi control of the strait could allow the group to choose targets with precision, giving it significant leverage over a route essential to the global economy.
Behind the scenes, some Israeli officials are sharply criticizing what they see as a collapse of regional deterrence. They question why Saudi Arabia, Yemen’s government and other actors have not mounted a stronger response, allowing the Houthis to advance with limited resistance. The situation exposes serious weaknesses in the forces expected to confront the rebels—weaknesses that contrast sharply with the Houthis’ determination and willingness to use any means available.
The concern is that if the Houthis consolidate their control of Bab el‑Mandab, a more cohesive and formidable Iran‑led regional coalition could emerge—one that another power may eventually have to dismantle.
For now, U.S. President Donald Trump has avoided direct intervention. “The Houthis don’t want to fight us,” he said Saturday. Axios reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Trump twice last week urging U.S. strikes on the Houthis, but Trump has so far rejected the request.
Against this backdrop, the IDF has adjusted its posture. Alongside protecting Israel’s land borders, the military is reinforcing efforts to defend strategic maritime assets and ensure freedom of navigation for Israeli shipping. Navy commander Vice Adm. Eyal Harel has ordered heightened readiness across the navy’s command‑and‑control network, and senior officers have strengthened naval deployments at sea to prevent surprises.
From the IDF’s perspective, the Red Sea developments are part of a broader transformation in regional maritime security—one that could eventually extend into the Mediterranean. Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Houthis’ gains at Bab el‑Mandab have reshaped the strategic landscape. Israeli officials believe armed groups across the region have watched Iran’s maritime successes closely and may seek to replicate them, potentially escalating from provocations to serious disruptions of global shipping.
For Israel, the stakes are particularly high. Although it has land borders, Israel depends overwhelmingly on maritime commerce, with roughly 98% of its import volume arriving by sea. Ensuring uninterrupted access to shipping routes is therefore a strategic necessity.
As a result, Israeli defense officials increasingly view the maritime arena as a central front in national security. Protecting freedom of action at sea and guaranteeing the flow of goods to and from Israel, they say, must be backed by significantly expanded naval capabilities.
The emerging conclusion within the defense establishment is that the Israeli Navy will need to grow and substantially strengthen its forces in the coming years to meet a maritime challenge stretching from the Mediterranean through the Red Sea and into some of the world’s most vital shipping lanes.
(YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated on Motzei Yom Tov in Israel)
