From 9/11 to Bab al-Mandab?

On September 11, 2026, the entire world, particularly the United States, will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. In that catastrophe, two aircraft crashed into the 110-story Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, creating an unprecedented human tragedy. Nearly 3,000 unsuspecting human beings were suddenly killed, thousands were injured, and millions were left unemployed. The toxic dust and gases released by the attacks caused many people to suffer from various illnesses in the years that followed. The scale of this continuing health crisis can be understood from the latest report of the 9/11 Health Program, according to which more than 150,000 people are still receiving medical care and monitoring. The financial losses have amounted to billions of dollars, perhaps more than $83 billion. The devastation that followed in Afghanistan, and then in Iraq in 2003, was no less severe. A quarter of a century ago, this writer wrote extensively about these events, and today I found myself reflecting on a simple question: What did those who unleashed all this destruction actually achieve? What did they gain from it? It was somewhat like what happens in a society built on coercion: a deranged man, unable to reconcile with his estranged wife, shoots not only her but her innocent children, her entire family, and eventually himself, leaving behind a tragic story, while those who witness it learn nothing from the catastrophe. In today’s civilized world, coercion and fanaticism are among the most terrifying forces standing in the way of human progress and prosperity, yet no clear escape from them seems to be in sight. The tragedy of our unfortunate country is that there is hardly any room left here for freedom of thought or for speaking the truth. Sadly, the fanatical mindset that lay behind 9/11 continues to occupy our collective consciousness and conscience even today. The title I have given above, “From 9/11 to Bab al-Mandab,” therefore requires a little explanation. Bab al-Mandab, like the Strait of Hormuz, is a narrow maritime passage, a strait or strategic chokepoint. In the argument presented here, the same mindset appears to be seeking to close or control both of these strategic passages. There is no doubt that Iran’s roughly 90 million enlightened people constitute a great nation blessed with enormous wealth in the form of oil and other natural resources. But unfortunately, if they were subjected to monarchical oppression half a century ago, today they remain trapped in what can be described as an even harsher form of religious coercion and authoritarianism. Today, the Strait of Hormuz is described as being under the control of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, while in Yemen, its alleged proxy, the Houthi Shiite movement Ansar Allah, has sought to put pressure on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by surrounding or threatening the Bab al-Mandab chokepoint. For a long time, the Houthis have also been launching drones and missiles against Saudi Arabia. According to media reports, the latest Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia injured 73 people, while some reports also recorded fatalities. The attacks reportedly took place in Saudi cities bordering the Red Sea and in the vicinity of Yemen, including Abha, Khamis Mushait, Najran, and Jazan. Saudi Aramco’s oil facilities in Jazan were among the sites reportedly targeted, and fires could be seen at several locations. This was described as the largest attack on Saudi Arabia since 2022. The Houthis themselves characterized it as a retaliatory military operation against Saudi Arabia, while the Saudis described it as dangerous aggression and vowed to respond. At the same time, however, Saudi authorities stated that the door to diplomacy had not been closed. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio blamed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for the attack on Saudi Arabia, describing the Houthis as an Iranian proxy. Meanwhile, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported alleged U.S. attacks on Iran’s Kharg Island and the city of Jask, saying that Iran would retaliate by attacking American military bases. In addition, Houthi state media issued a statement claiming that its missiles had targeted Abha International Airport, King Khalid Air Base, and Saudi Aramco facilities in Jazan. The Iranians also claimed to have seized an American submarine and shot down a drone. From Pakistan to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, condemnation was expressed over the latest Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. Our Prime Minister stated that the recent attack on Saudi Arabia represented a serious threat to regional peace. Questions have also been raised in the media about when action would be taken in accordance with the recently concluded Mecca Agreement. Although the Saudi Kingdom, together with the Yemeni government, is conducting operations against the Houthi rebels, defeating them will not be easy. It is being argued that advancing ground forces may eventually require accepting the risk of significant casualties.
(To be continued…)