Yemen’s Houthis have entered the month-old Iran conflict with a short wave of attacks on Isreal, further threatening global shipping. Just as Iran can exert control over marine traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, Yemen can do the same with the Red Sea.
While the Strait of Hormuz is an essential bottleneck for shipments of petroleum and liquified natural gas, the Red Sea is more important for shipments of general commerce between the East and West.
The Iran-backed Houthis, which are a rebel group in Yemen but not representatives of the Yemini state, previously blocked shipping through the red Sea in 2023, in response to Israel’s war in Gaza.
The developments come as U.S. Marines arrive in the region and the Pentagon prepares for potential ground operations in Iran.
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