Iran denies involvement in Yemen fighting

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a narrow passage separating the Arabian Peninsula from Africa, has recently become Iran's wild card in global politics. This 20-mile-wide strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, and provides access to the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. Before recent conflicts, this waterway facilitated about 30 percent of global container traffic, enabling efficient transportation of goods between Asia and Europe.

The ongoing conflict with Iran has heightened focus on the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the strategic significance of the Bab al-Mandeb. Iran has demonstrated its capability to attack ships in Hormuz to pressure the United States to end its involvement in the Yemeni war. The Bab al-Mandeb's name, meaning "Gate of Tears," is believed to originate from ancient earthquakes and floods that separated Africa from Arabia, resulting in countless casualties.

However, the exact origin remains unknown, but the consequences of this passage are far from positive.

Iran's revolutionary government, since 1979, has aimed to extend its ideology and influence throughout the Middle East. They have achieved this through their Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Quds Force, which trains and equips armed groups in the region. These networks, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, and various militias in Iraq, have consistently targeted American forces, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.

The strategy employed by Iran in Yemen involves establishing armed networks within weak or fractured states, thereby obtaining strategic depth and leverage without engaging in direct conflict. The United States, Israel, and U.S.-aligned regional partnerships, particularly with Saudi Arabia, have traditionally been primary targets of this approach.

Yemen, located immediately south of Saudi Arabia, was divided into North and South during the Cold War, with a unification occurring only in 1990. However, this unity did not effectively address the country's political, tribal, and regional divisions.

The Houthi movement, a Zaydi Shiite revival group from northern Yemen, emerged in the late 1980s and 1990s. Under the leadership of Hussein al-Houthi, the movement transitioned from a political to a militant force, engaging in several wars against Yemen's central government. The group later adopted the name Ansar Allah and adopted an Iranian-inspired slogan: "God is great.

Death to America. Death to Israel. Curse the Jews. Victory to Islam." In 2014, the Houthis took control of Yemen's capital, Sana'a, pushing the government south and triggering a Saudi-led military intervention.

While Iran did not create the Houthis, they have provided crucial support through weapons, missile components, drones, training, and technical expertise. This assistance transformed a localized insurgency into a globally impactful force. In the run-up to Joe Biden's presidency, Yemen was a pressing issue, with calls from senators, humanitarian organizations, and activists urging the administration to take action to end the war. The civil conflict, which was escalating, was a primary concern during the transition of power.