Yemen’s Houthi rebels, whose attacks on the Red Sea caused international shipping and trade chaos during the Gaza war, stand ready to strike the key waterway again in solidarity with Tehran, one Houthi leader has told Reuters.

If the Houthis open a new front in the conflict, one obvious target would be the Bab al-Mandab Strait off the coast of Yemen, a key shipping chokepoint and narrow passageway that controls sea traffic towards the Suez Canal after Iran effectively shut the critical Strait of Hormuz.

“We stand fully militarily ready with all options. As for other details having to do with determining zero hour, they are left to leadership and we are monitoring and following up with the developments and will know when is the suitable time to move,” the Houthi leader has said, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic.

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