A commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force said Monday that shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could mirror the tensions of the Strait of Hormuz [1].
This warning signals a potential expansion of maritime instability in the Red Sea, a critical global trade artery. If the Bab el-Mandeb Strait becomes a primary zone of conflict, it could disrupt international energy supplies and increase shipping costs globally.
The commander said that navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb would become similar to Hormuz if Israeli attacks on Gaza and Lebanon continue [1]. He linked the security of the waterway directly to the ongoing military actions in those regions.
According to the IRGC official, these attacks will turn the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into a conflict arena similar to the Strait of Hormuz [2]. The Strait of Hormuz has historically been a flashpoint for tensions between Iran and Western powers, often involving the seizure of tankers or threats to close the waterway.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, located between Yemen and Djibouti, serves as the southern gateway to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The commander's remarks on June 1, 2026 [1], suggest that the IRGC views the maritime corridor as a strategic lever to pressure Israel and its allies.
By comparing the two straits, the commander highlighted the risk of systemic instability across both the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. The statement suggests that the IRGC and its allies may be prepared to escalate maritime disruptions if their political and military objectives regarding Gaza and Lebanon are not met.
“navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb would become similar to Hormuz if Israeli attacks on Gaza and Lebanon continue”
This rhetoric indicates a strategic shift toward linking disparate theaters of conflict. By threatening the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—a chokepoint nearly as vital as Hormuz—the IRGC is signaling that it can project influence far beyond Iranian borders to impact global trade in response to regional conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
