Saudi Arabia can break the Houthis’ grip on the Red Sea
It's the Saudis who have to take the lead and logistical support from their Red Sea bases will be the backbone of the effort to stop the Houthis.
The Strait of Hormuz isn't the only naval choke point under threat in the Middle East; the Red Sea is also facing disruption from Iranian-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen. Saudi Arabia, the most affected nation, is now assembling a naval coalition to restore order in the waterway. This coalition's potential effectiveness in keeping the Red Sea open compared to the U.S.'s protection of shipping through Hormuz warrants examination.
The Saudi Arabian civil war, now in its decade, has intermittently involved Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates against Houthi rebels. Iran has encouraged the Houthis to blockade and threaten attacks on Saudi supertankers carrying crude oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait or north via the Suez Canal. These ships transport a significant portion of the world's petroleum products, up to 15% since the Hormuz crisis, and handle up to 30% of containerized shipping.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
