Naher Osten: Huthi-Angriffe im Yemen bedrohen Waffenruhe und Schifffahrt

The ongoing civil war in Yemen, the poorest country in the Arab world, has again intensified, potentially disrupting global efforts to export oil from the Gulf region. A key player in this conflict is a Houthi rebel group, backed by Iran, which aims to prevent Saudi Arabia from utilizing the vital Hormuz Strait as a transport route.

Yemen is home to over 40 million people, many of whom fear the resumption of the civil war. The conflict has already claimed around 150,000 lives and pushed countless others closer to starvation. Currently, a ceasefire between the Houthis and the internationally recognized government, supported by Saudi Arabia, is in effect. However, this ceasefire appears to be at risk of ending.

Situated in the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world's most important shipping routes, Yemen's situation is partly due to its location at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula and the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. The shipping route is of particular importance as Iran continues to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Local residents of the port city of Mukalla reported that Houthi militia members have advanced into the city, previously under the control of Yemen's internationally recognized government. If confirmed, this would represent a significant advance by the insurgents. Capturing Mukalla would leave the militia just 80 kilometers away from Bab al-Mandab, further complicating shipping through the Red Sea, not just for the Saudis.

The US has signaled its intention to resolve the conflict with Iran and ensure the safe global transport of oil by tanker, rather than escalating the fight.

The Houthis, however, have imposed a blockade on Saudi ships and threaten further attacks on the country's oil exports via the Red Sea. Iran, on the other hand, is trying to throttle oil supplies from the Gulf region in line with its own war objectives. The Iranian government can only welcome the Houthis' efforts to hinder Saudi shipments.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, recently stated that the path to diplomacy remains open, but his country would not hesitate to defend itself. Among the armed groups in the region supported by Iran, the Houthis have less prominence than Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. This fact, combined with their relative geographic distance, has helped protect the Houthis from Israeli attacks since the start of the Gaza conflict.

Nevertheless, the Houthis quickly became a target of US airstrikes after attacking ships in the Red Sea near Yemen's western coast, which they claimed were linked to Israel. These strikes soon ceased. The Houthis now have a new target: ships and other interests of Saudi Arabia, as Saudi Arabia attempts to export its oil through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, which handles $1 trillion in goods annually.

The Houthis are no longer confined to the northern coastal areas, according to Ahmed Nagi, a leading analyst for Yemen at the International Crisis Group. They have now expanded their control over a much larger coastal section, bringing them closer to the Bab al-Mandab region. The threat of disrupting another crucial global shipping route is alarming for consumers worldwide, already concerned about Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The price of a barrel of crude oil has already risen to over $100.