Houthis seize key Red Sea chokepoint: What can Saudi Arabia do? | DW News

Yemen's Houthis have seized control of the Yemeni side of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world's most important shipping chokepoints, as their forces make major gains along the Red Sea coast.

The advance puts new pressure on Saudi Arabia, which has relied heavily on the Red Sea for oil exports as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has collapsed. The Houthis say Saudi ships are now banned from passing through Bab al-Mandab.

What options does Riyadh have? How much control does Iran really exercise over the Houthis? And could the escalating conflict draw Saudi Arabia, and potentially the United States, deeper into the war?

DW speaks to Farea Al-Muslimi, Research Fellow at Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Programme, and Allison Minor, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and former US Deputy Special Envoy for Yemen.

#dwcurrentaffairs #houthis #yemen #babelmandeb

Chapters:
00:00 Houthis seize strategic Red Sea islands
00:40 Allison Minor on Saudi Arabia's response
01:49 Can the Houthis choke the Bab al-Mandab?
03:45 Iran, the Houthis and maritime power
06:15 Farea Al-Muslimi on control of the Red Sea
08:41 What this means for global trade and oil

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