Houthis' Advance on Bab al-Mandeb Threatens Global Oil Supplies

The conflict in Yemen has escalated, with Houthi rebel fighters breaking free from the front lines and seizing control of key positions near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. This strait is a vital energy route, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, and its significance has grown since Iran restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz in response to US and Israeli attacks.

The Houthis' advance has forced Saudi Arabia to shut down its East-West Pipeline, which carries around 4% of global oil supplies from the Gulf coast to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. This pipeline's shutdown, combined with the Houthis tightening their grip on the Red Sea coast and islands near Bab al-Mandeb, threatens to squeeze Saudi Arabia's alternative export routes.

Analyst Baraa Shiban notes that Iran is using economic warfare to disrupt global oil supplies, and that Saudi Arabia will likely have to find a military solution against the Houthis. The kingdom has a long-established relationship with the US, but for now, Washington appears reluctant to take action.