An army zodiac secures the entrance of the new section of the Suez Canal in Ismailia, Egypt, August 6, 2015. (File/AP) Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have warned they could escalate the ongoing regional conflict by targeting one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, the Bab el?Mandeb Strait, raising fears of fresh disruption to global shipping and energy supplies already rattled by tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency reported that the Iran-aligned Houthis and other members of the so-called “axis of resistance” are on full alert and could join Tehran’s expanding confrontation with the United States and its regional partners. Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi signaled last week that his group could escalate militarily in support of Iran, calling it “a battle for the entire nation against the American and Israeli enemy.” Such involvement could lead to attempts to shut the Bab el-Mandeb passage, the narrow waterway linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serving as a vital gateway for vessels travelling to and from the Suez Canal. “Our hands are on the trigger when it comes to military escalation and action whenever developments require it,” said al-Houthi. The warning comes as tensions across the Middle East intensify amid the widening Iran-US-Israel conflict, with Iran-aligned groups now signalling readiness to join the fight. The involvement of the Houthis could open a new maritime front in the conflict, turning the Red Sea, one of the world’s busiest trade corridors, into a major flashpoint. A closure or major disruption of the Bab el-Mandeb would have sweeping global implications. Around 12% of global seaborne oil passes through Bab el-Mandeb, making it the world’s fourth-largest shipping chokepoint, according to the report. The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. Amid the escalating war in the Middle East, Iran has restricted the passage of certain tankers through the vital waterway. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told US media that the strait remains open for international shipping, but warned that vessels belonging to the United States, Israel and their allies could face restrictions. Meanwhile, in his first message as Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei pledged to maintain Tehran’s leverage over the Strait of Hormuz. Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, said in a statement that claims by the United States about destroying Iran's navy or providing safe escort for oil tankers were false, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency. "The Strait of Hormuz has not been militarily blocked and is merely under control," the statement said. Notably, US President Donald Trump on Saturday urged countries dependent on oil shipments through the strait to take responsibility for keeping it open, with American assistance. Washington has been trying to ease high oil prices amid the joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran, triggering Iran's retaliations on US assets across the region. Ananya is a journalist with a strong grounding in breaking news and a deep-rooted passion for geopolitics. She has 6 years of experience in TV and Dig... View More