A new threat by Yemen’s Houthis could widen the Iran war and put another trade chokepoint at risk

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have threatened to blockade Saudi Arabia-linked shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, warning retaliation for Saudi actions in Yemen and attacks near Sanaa. The group says it has forced ships to reroute and claims attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, though details weren’t independently confirmed. Bab el-Mandeb is a vital trade route between the Red Sea and the Gulf, and a simultaneous disruption alongside Gulf shipping could sharply raise oil and shipping costs worldwide.