The story

Yemen's Houthi movement aims to replicate Iran's strategy in the Strait of Hormuz by controlling shipping in the Red Sea's Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to Yemeni Foreign Minister-designate Afrah Al-Zouba. Speaking to journalists in Riyadh on Monday, Al-Zouba said the Houthis have been emboldened by an insufficient international response and that their strategy would shut down two main straits serving as gateways to the Gulf and Red Sea. Approximately 30 percent of global container traffic passes through the Red Sea, and 12 to 15 percent of overall global trade. Data suggests shipping through the Red Sea is already declining, with just 11 commodity vessels passing through it on Sunday.

The Houthis have escalated attacks against Saudi Arabia, declaring a blockade on Saudi shipping and firing missiles and drones at the kingdom. The group claims to have struck crude oil supply and transport sites linking eastern Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. Anecdotal reports suggest damage near the massive Saudi Abqaiq refinery, confirmed by satellite imaging. Satellite imaging also suggests the Jizan refining complex continues to burn several days after Houthi attacks. Saudi Arabia has responded with airstrikes on what it said were Houthi military facilities and said it would protect commercial shipping.

The escalation is the biggest since a truce was reached in 2022 and threatens to return Yemen to full-scale war. Nearly 20 fighters from both sides died earlier this month during clashes between the Houthis and government forces around Hodeidah. Al-Zouba said firing is taking place along the frontline spanning Yemen's northwest from the Red Sea to the Saudi border, but neither side has yet mounted an offensive. Hundreds of thousands of people have died in Yemen's war since the Houthis stormed the capital Sanaa in 2014, prompting Saudi intervention.