Israeli Report: Tel Aviv's Growing Concerns Over Houthi Expansion and Control of Bab al-Mandab

An Israeli report has revealed that Israel's security establishment has raised its alert level across various fronts, as concerns mount over the expanding military capabilities of the Houthi group in Yemen and their increasing control over the strategically vital Bab al-Mandab strait.

According to the report, published by Sky News Arabia, Israeli intelligence and security agencies continue to view Iran as their primary strategic target, though the Houthi file has witnessed a marked increase in attention in recent weeks.

The report noted that this heightened focus comes as the Houthi group expands its military and logistical capabilities and strengthens its control over the Bab al-Mandab passage, the vital maritime corridor connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

The report did not provide additional details about the nature of preparatory measures taken by Israel's security establishment, or timelines associated with this intelligence assessment.

This assessment comes in the context of Israel's ongoing monitoring of regional developments linked to what it describes as an Iran-backed axis, which encompasses groups and factions across multiple regional theaters.