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Expert warns of 'general escalation' of fighting if Houthis resume Red Sea campaign
The group said Israeli vessels are legitimate targets, and analysts warned the move could again cut Red Sea traffic and raise shipping costs.
- On June 8, the Iran-aligned Houthi declared a "complete and total ban" on Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea, warning of potential escalation against vessels linked to Israel.
- The Houthis previously attacked ships near the Mandeb Strait from 2023 to 2025 in retaliation against Israel's war in Gaza, with their broad definition of linked vessels causing traffic through the waterway to collapse.
- Before 2023, close to 10 per cent of global seaborne trade passed through the Mandeb Strait annually, but that share fell to around 3 per cent last year, even as maritime trade carries more than 80% of world trade by volume.
- Renewed attacks could jeopardise oil exports from Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Yanbu, which the kingdom used to bypass Hormuz; Saudi Arabia shipped 3.65 million barrels a day of crude via Yanbu in May.
- While Iran backs the group, the Houthis have their own strategic calculations and do not automatically act at Tehran's command; analyst Al-Iryani told The Media Line that aggression carries huge diplomatic and military costs.
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After the escalation at the beginning of June, the Huthi on Iran's side are threatening to intervene in the Middle East war. They could do great damage, but who are the Huthi?
·Zürich, Switzerland
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources9
Leaning Left1Leaning Right6Center0Last UpdatedBias Distribution86% Right
Bias Distribution
- 86% of the sources lean Right
86% Right
14%
R 86%
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