Red Sea.

Iran warns of possible Bab el-Mandeb front if military action targets southern Iran

By Mohammed Tawfeeq

An Iranian military source has warned that Tehran could open additional strategic fronts, including around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, if the US and Israel undertake military actions against Iranian islands or attempt to pressure the country through naval operations.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, acting as a vital chokepoint for global trade, particularly oil and natural gas shipments.

“If the enemy attempts any ground action on Iranian islands or any part of our territory, or tries to impose costs on Iran through naval movements in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman, we will open other fronts as a ‘surprise,’” the source said, as cited by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency on Wednesday.

The military source specifically referenced the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Tasnim, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and asserted that Iran has both the capability and determination to create a credible threat in that area if tensions escalate.

“If the Americans intend to take reckless actions regarding the Strait of Hormuz, they should be careful not to add another strait to their list of challenges,” the source added.

Approximately 12% of total global seaborne-traded oil and a significant portion of liquefied natural gas pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait annually.