Yemen's Houthis represent a new threat to maritime routes in the Middle East region that are essential for global oil supply. The rebels took an island in the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb, which allows them to control access to the Red Sea.
The Houthis are allies of Iran and managed to establish a strategic position in the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb through this territorial conquest. This location is of extreme geopolitical importance, since the strait is a mandatory passage for oil tankers transporting crude to various parts of the world.
The capture of the island in the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb gives the Houthis the capability to monitor and potentially interfere with maritime traffic in the region. This situation represents a significant risk to global energy security, given that any disruption on this route can affect oil prices and supply worldwide.
