A maritime security group led by the US Navy has warned that Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have completed preparations to attack ships transiting the southern Red Sea, according to a statement released on July 23, 2026.
The warning, issued by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), cited sources close to the Houthi group stating that the rebels have finished preparations for potential strikes on vessels in the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait, a key chokepoint for global shipping.
The Houthis have not yet commented on the claim. The CMF advises all commercial and military vessels to exercise heightened vigilance in the area.
This development follows months of increased tensions in the region, with the Houthis having previously targeted ships they claim are linked to Israel or its allies during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
