• Houthi attacks on shipping through Bab el-Mandeb Strait are raising concerns.
• The waterway could become a second Strait of Hormuz.
• Four crew members were killed in a recent Houthi attack on an Egyptian-owned cargo ship.
• The U.S. and its regional allies face a threat that may be difficult to solve with naval power alone.

The growing threat to Bab el-Mandeb Strait may indicate a shift in regional security dynamics, suggesting that Iran's influence through its Houthi allies could pose a significant challenge to global shipping and energy security, which could lead to a major policy shift in the region.