In a lightning series of advances in the past week, the Houthis have captured Hanish and Zuqar Islands, the port of Mocha, and now Perim Island, which effectively divides the aptly named Bab al-Mandab, ‘The Gate of Tears’ or ‘Grief’, in two. They now control the whole of the Yemeni side of the Red Sea. Their partial blockade of the Red Sea, which they have maintained on and off since 2023, is set to become even more effective. Not content with that, the Houthis have in the last 24 hours launched missile attacks against the Saudis’ King Khalid Air Force Base and other military targets, and possibly also been involved in a drone and missile attack on the main east-west pipeline that brings oil from Saudi oilfields which bypass the heavily contested Strait of Hormuz.

Is it too late to save the United Kingdom?

Sydney Sweeney and the return of real body positivity

Emma Barnett was never the right fit for Today

The impact of this has been immediately felt in rising oil prices but, if continued, is likely to bring further disruption to the world economy, which relies on Red Sea passage for some 10 per cent of trade, and some 6-7 per cent of oil shipments. What provoked this escalation? What can be done about it?

While the Houthis – trained, mentored and supplied by Iran, as part of its proxy forces strategy to confront America and Israel –........

© The Spectator