The Strait of Tensions: Yemen's Houthis Blockade Saudi Shipping The latest escalation in the decades long conflict between Yemen's Iranian backed Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia has brought the global trade network to a precarious crossroads.
The Houthi announcement that they will block Saudi shipping at the Bab al Mandeb strait, a vital gateway for international commerce, is a deliberate provocation with far reaching implications.
For years, the Houthis have demonstrated their capacity to disrupt shipping through this strategically located waterway.