Israel strikes Hezbollah, but Iran has found a new weak point

An analytical piece on the regional confrontation: Israel strikes Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon, leveraging experience from the Gaza war, yet Iran gains a new leverage point through the Houthis, who have strengthened their position near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Turkish expert Muhammad Mazhar Shahin, in an interview with CNN Türk, describes the paradox: the weakening of one element of the Iranian network is compensated by the strengthening of another, posing a threat to international shipping.

The analytical piece describes the paradox of the current regional confrontation: Israel is systematically striking Hezbollah's underground infrastructure in Lebanon, demonstrating to Iran the experience gained in the Gaza Strip. However, according to Turkish researcher Muhammad Mazhar Shahin, the weakening of one element of the Iranian network is compensated by the strengthening of another. The Houthis have expanded their presence along Yemen's western coast, advanced in the Al-Mukha and Jubabah areas, and gained control over Perim Island (Mayyun) in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The strait is about 29 kilometers wide, and a significant portion of global maritime trade passes through it. Thus, the Houthis gain an additional tool to pressure commercial vessels and warships. The expert notes that US President Donald Trump is not interested in a full-scale war with Iran, which limits the likelihood of a major American operation but leaves room for independent Israeli action. Head of the Arab desk at Channel 13, Hezi Simantov, believes the timing of the Houthi advance is not coincidental and may be coordinated with Iran.