June 8 – Yemen's Houthis, who are backed by Iran, announced on Monday that they will prohibit ships linked to Israel from passing through the Red Sea. This decision follows a recent escalation in Isr...
June 8 – Yemen's Houthis, who are backed by Iran, announced on Monday that they will prohibit ships linked to Israel from passing through the Red Sea. This decision follows a recent escalation in Israeli military actions against Iran, raising new concerns about global shipping and energy supplies.
Here's why this is significant for the ongoing conflict with Iran and the global energy crisis:
WHAT IS THE RISK TO GLOBAL ENERGY MARKETS?
Iran's closing of the Strait of Hormuz, which began after attacks from Israel and the United States on February 28, has severely disrupted oil and energy exports from the Gulf. This has led to increased prices and a major energy crisis.
In response, Saudi Arabia has shifted over 70% of its usual daily crude exports to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, providing relief to the energy market and helping to stabilize global oil prices.
However, if the Houthis disrupt Red Sea shipping with attacks on vessels or ports, it could create serious problems.
When the Houthis targeted Red Sea shipping in November 2023, Gulf oil exports were running smoothly. As a result, companies rerouted their ships to avoid the Red Sea, but they didn't completely stop operations. Now, shipments are being loaded in the Red Sea.
A source from the Houthis told Reuters that preventing Israeli ships from transiting the Red Sea is just "the first step." If tensions escalate, they might stop any ships headed to Israel and implement other actions.
During their previous attacks amid the Gaza conflict, Houthis targeted any vessels linked to Israel, which deterred many companies from using that route.
WHO ARE THE HOUTHIS?
The Houthis began as a military, political, and religious movement in northern Yemen during the 1990s, fighting against the Yemeni government in Sanaa.
They follow the Zaydi branch of Shi'a Islam and have strengthened ties with Iran since the 2011 Arab Spring, seizing control of the capital in 2014 and thwarting a Gulf-supported political transition.
Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies intervened militarily shortly after, aiming to restore the ousted government and eliminate a group they consider an Iranian proxy.
As the Yemeni civil war stagnated, the Houthis attacked oil facilities and infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the UAE using missiles and drones.
However, a truce established in 2022 has held for the most part.
ARE THE HOUTHIS AN IRANIAN PROXY?
Iran promotes the Houthis as part of its regional "Axis of Resistance," which also includes Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iraqi Shiite militias. However, the relationship between Iran and the Houthis is less defined compared to those other groups.
The Houthis do not see Iran's supreme leader as their ultimate religious authority like Hezbollah and the Iraqi factions do. Their goals are largely domestic, though they share ideological alignment with Iran.
The U.S. claims Iran has provided weapons, funding, and training to the Houthis with assistance from Hezbollah, while the Houthis assert they develop their own weapons.
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE HOUTHIS ATTACKED RED SEA SHIPS BEFORE?
After the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel and the subsequent Israeli military actions in Gaza, the Houthis began targeting Israel and international shipping in the Red Sea, claiming to support the Palestinian cause.
The Houthi attacks severely impacted global shipping, causing major companies like Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd to reroute their vessels around Africa, a much longer and more costly journey.
A U.S.-led mission to ensure safe navigation in the Red Sea resulted in a series of strikes on Houthi targets and defensive actions that intercepted hundreds of drones and missiles.
Some Houthi attacks continued until last summer and only ceased fully with the Gaza ceasefire in October.
WHAT HAVE THEY DONE DURING THE LATEST IRAN WAR?
While Hezbollah and Iraqi groups actively participated in the conflict from the start, firing rockets and drones after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, the Houthis have been relatively quiet.
Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi stated on March 5, "Our fingers are on the trigger at any moment should developments warrant it."
Iranian military leaders have warned that the Houthis might join the fight, with the Quds Force commander suggesting they could block the Red Sea.
However, prior to this week, the Houthis had only engaged in limited missile and drone attacks against Israel in late March and early April.
The reasons for the Houthis' relative silence are not fully understood. They and Iran might want to use the threat of shutting down a major energy route to caution Israel and the U.S. against further escalations.
Additionally, the Houthis may feel less obligated to protect Iran compared to Tehran's other allies.
Furthermore, they may prefer not to provoke Saudi Arabia, their powerful neighbor, as they wish to avoid reigniting conflict at home.