Houthi Red Sea Attacks Endanger Global Shipping, Worsening Economic Woes
Yemen's Houthi fighters have attacked shipping in the Red Sea, threatening to further destabilise the Middle East and disrupt global trade. The Iran-backed group claims to have struck two Saudi vessels and forced 10 others to turn back from the Bab El Mandeb strait, a critical maritime route connecting Europe to Asia.
The attacks come amid continued US-Iran strikes and concerns over a potential arms race in the region. For 12 consecutive nights, US Central Command has carried out air strikes on Iranian coastal radar, drone and missile bases. Meanwhile, Gulf Arab states face constant attacks from Iran, disrupting their usual stability.
The Houthi involvement follows an apparent breakdown of the 2022 ceasefire with Saudi Arabia. The group now threatens shipping passing through the Bab El Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. This adds to existing disruptions caused by Iran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy and fertiliser supplies.
Saudi Arabia has attempted to mitigate the Strait of Hormuz closure by exporting oil via its East-West Pipeline to the Red Sea terminal at Yanbu' Al-Bahr. However, the Houthi threat now endangers that route, as tankers must pass Yemeni waters.
President Donald Trump has vowed to 'take care of the Houthis,' but previous attempts have failed. Without a negotiated settlement, the attacks are likely to continue, causing further economic damage to global markets already strained by conflict.
