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Committee examines Houthi attacks, Bab al‑Mandeb and risks to shipping in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz

5098363 · June 24, 2025

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Summary

Senators and nominees discussed maritime threats from the Iran‑aligned Houthi movement, the security of the Bab al‑Mandeb and the Straits of Hormuz, and the U.S. Navy's capacity to detect and clear sea mines. Witnesses said the U.S. maintains a mine warfare capability but that clearance is measured in weeks to months.

Maritime security emerged as a focused subject during the hearing as senators asked how the U.S. would protect commercial shipping and naval movements through key chokepoints.

Why it matters: The Bab al‑Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz handle significant volumes of global oil and shipping; a sustained Houthi campaign or mine deployment could disrupt global trade and energy markets.

What was discussed - Houthis and Iranian support: Witnesses and senators said the Houthis have been supported by Iran for years with arms, training and technical assistance. "They're extremely well supplied," Admiral Cooper said, describing Iranian support for Houthi capabilities. - Freedom of navigation and ceasefires: Cooper said a recent military effort restored freedom of navigation through the Bab al‑Mandeb and that a ceasefire condition had been in place for roughly 40 days at the time of the hearing. He warned that the flow of commerce took months to leave the Red Sea and would take months to return. - Mine warfare and response time: Senators asked how quickly shipping lanes could be reopened if Iran or proxies deployed sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Cooper said mine countermeasures are complex and "nothing happens quickly" in mine warfare — he characterized clearance as a matter of weeks to months, not days.

Ending: Committee members urged close monitoring of seaborne threats and expanded maritime ISR and mine‑countermeasure capacity; nominees said those missions are priorities for CENTCOM and that they track regional shipping and naval movements closely.