Houthi fighters join the fray, choke the Red Sea — but it's Saudi Arabia that's most tense, global energy markets on edge!
On March 28 local time, Houthi forces in Yemen launched their first ballistic missile attack targeting Israel, formally entering the U.S.-Israel campaign against Iran. Global attention is once again fixed on the so-called "Gate of Tears," the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. This move is no accident — it comes after the Houthis met three key conditions for intervention: the Red Sea has become a critical transit route for operations against Iran, external powers are intensifying support for the U.S. and Israel, and regional military escalation continues to expand. This marks a new phase in the Middle East conflict, shifting from localized confrontation to interconnected chain reactions.
The Houthis have clearly listed blocking the Bab al-Mandeb Strait as a "feasible option." Yet this strait is the vital lifeline for global trade and energy flows. Data shows it handles about 12% of global shipping volume, with over 4.2 million barrels of crude oil transported daily — the southern gateway to the Suez Canal. Without it, Red Sea shipping would become a dead end. Currently, Saudi Arabia relies on a 1,200-kilometer east-west oil pipeline to transport crude to the emergency export terminal at Yanbu on the Red Sea coast, with recent daily loading volumes reaching 4.19 million barrels — accounting for 60% of pre-war Saudi export capacity — making it a crucial "lifeline" for global oil markets. But this temporary "resuscitation" channel now faces severe challenges.
Compared to the Red Sea crisis of 2023, when Houthi attacks on U.S., UK, and allied Israeli vessels triggered cascading effects, today’s situation is far more complex: the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed, leaving the Bab al-Mandeb Strait as the only alternative route for Middle Eastern oil shipments to Asia. If blocked, global energy and food supply chains would suffer massive disruptions. The Houthis have made their stance clear: they will target only vessels belonging to aggressor nations, while neutral-flagged ships can pass safely. Yet their "ready-to-act" military posture conceals enormous risks.
The key variable in the current situation lies in "balancing acts." The Houthi missile strikes are a direct deterrent against Israel and a clear signal to the U.S. and Israel to halt further military escalation. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s emergency breakout success hinges directly on Yanbu Port’s throughput capacity — which has a maximum daily loading limit of about 4.5 million barrels, already nearing its operational ceiling. If hostilities continue, port load pressures and maritime safety will face dual threats. Global oil markets remain under intense strain; international oil prices have not surged further largely due to stable output from Yanbu Port. Should the Bab al-Mandeb Strait be closed, ultra-large oil tankers would need to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, adding thousands of nautical miles to their voyages — significantly increasing shipping costs and exacerbating global energy shortages.
This geopolitical struggle has long transcended the confines of the Middle East. It represents not only coordinated resistance by regional forces but also an extension of great power strategic competition and a real test of global supply chain resilience. The Houthi entry into the conflict amplifies the risk of a "dual-stranglehold," presenting unprecedented challenges to global energy security. The trajectory of this conflict will directly determine the stability of the global economy and trade rhythms!
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860909140072455/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.