US warns of Houthi-Shabaab link threatening Bab el-Mandeb

United States officials have identified a deepening alliance between the Houthi movement in Yemen and the Al-Shabaab militant group in Somalia as an escalating threat to maritime trade and regional stability. The Financial Times reported that this developing relationship poses significant risks to security in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Washington’s assessment of the threat

A spokesperson for the United States Africa Command characterized the connection between the two groups as a "growing and concerning" danger to regional stability. According to American officials and security experts, the collaboration has moved beyond simple arms smuggling. Current activities reportedly include training on drone usage and explosives, alongside direct communications between operatives across the Gulf of Aden.

Nature of military cooperation

Reports indicate that the Houthis have sold weapons to Al-Shabaab. There are also signs that Somali fighters have received training in Yemen, while Houthi members have trained Somali nationals. The Center for Strategic and African Studies noted that this cooperation evolved significantly since early 2025.

Washington fears that this proximity grants the Houthis influence over the African side of the Gulf of Aden and enhances Al-Shabaab’s capabilities within the Horn of Africa. The Houthis have expanded their control along the Yemeni coast of the Red Sea, including the port of Mocha, bringing them closer to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Strategic implications for global trade

The Bab el-Mandeb is a critical waterway connecting the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, carrying a substantial portion of global commerce. Despite these warnings, the Financial Times report acknowledges a lack of confirmed evidence that Al-Shabaab has deployed advanced Houthi missile systems in Somalia. Security analysts note that surface-to-air missiles sought by the group have not yet appeared in Somali battlefields.

The scale of training remains uncertain. One expert suggested that up to 1,500 Somali fighters may have undergone training with the Houthis in Yemen, though this figure has not been independently verified.