Houthis make gains in Red Sea: Why Saudi Arabia is at loggerheads with Yemen's rebel group
Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on the Red Sea route as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has been attacking shipping.
Recent developments in West Asia have seen Iran-backed Houthi fighters from Yemen seize control of strategic islands in the Red Sea, raising concerns for Saudi Arabia's shipping routes. The Houthi group captured both Greater and Lesser Hanish islands, placing them closer to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait – a crucial shipping route that serves as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, which has been a target of Iranian attacks.
This escalation in the Red Sea has prompted Saudi Arabia to consider a harsh response, potentially involving an all-out war, in order to protect its oil infrastructure and supply lines. The Houthis' push for an end to the Saudi blockade in northern Yemen, which has been ongoing for 12 years, adds further tension to the situation.
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