Houthis Escalate Conflict with Saudi Arabia, Threatening Global Trade

The conflict in Yemen has escalated as Islamist militants fired missiles at high-profile targets in Saudi Arabia over the weekend. The Houthis, backed by Iran, claimed to have struck their targets, while Saudi Arabia said it intercepted the missiles aimed at its capital, Riyadh, and the Red Sea terminus of its oil pipeline, Yanbu.

Retired General John Teichert explained that the Houthis' actions are not solely driven by Iranian interests. 'I don't think that's as much the Houthis being puppets for Iran as it is the Houthis doing the things that are in their own interests,' he said on 'Washington Watch.'

The Houthis have a history of targeting Saudi Arabia, and their primary leverage lies in the threat of shutting off the flow of goods through the Red Sea. Teichert noted that 15% of all worldwide transit goes through the Red Sea, making it a crucial route for global trade.