IRGC Commander Orchestrates Houthi Strategy to Target Bab al-Mandab Strait

A senior commander of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Abdul Reza Shahlai, is reportedly overseeing military and security operations for the Houthi militia from the Al-Hudaydah Governorate to solidify their presence on the western coast and facilitate a strategic expansion toward the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

According to intelligence cited by Sheba Intelligence, Shahlai is operating from a newly established IRGC command center in Al-Khawkhah. His mission involves reorganizing Houthi military deployments and reinforcing front lines along the coast. The Iranian-backed plan reportedly seeks to infiltrate anti-Houthi military factions—including the Giants Brigades, the Nation Shield forces, and the Yemeni army—by recruiting internal assets and exploiting regional tensions to undermine coordination among these groups.

The strategic objective of this initiative extends beyond immediate territorial gains; it aims to neutralize the ability of opposing forces to launch counter-offensives. By weakening these units, the Houthis intend to secure their coastal positions and pave the way for a gradual advance toward Ras al-Ara in the Lahj Governorate. Given its proximity to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors, such an expansion would grant the militia significant leverage over international shipping lanes connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

Recent reports suggest that Shahlai has been deeply involved in orchestrating a broader escalation, including meetings with Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi and consultations regarding potential offensives against oil resources in Ma'rib. Furthermore, Iranian experts have allegedly been deployed to assess the defensive capabilities of government forces, signaling direct Iranian involvement in planning regional military operations. This strategy is complemented by psychological warfare, utilizing rumors and internal divisions to erode the morale of anti-Houthi fighters.

The ongoing efforts to transform temporary Houthi gains into a long-term military presence present a growing threat to regional stability. If successful, the expansion of Houthi influence toward the Bab al-Mandab Strait would introduce a new, volatile dimension to the Yemeni conflict, with profound implications for global maritime security and the flow of international energy and trade.