She showed how courage, determination and commitment to principle can act as a force multiplier allowing a much weaker army to “punch above its weight”. They also showed that a few well-placed missiles in key locations on the world's most critical shipping lanes can shake the global economy and shake the "rules-based order" to its foundations. In short, the Houthis have shown that David can take down Goliath without breaking a sweat, provided David maintains his perch along the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.

Here's what's happening: The Houthis occupy an area along the narrowest part of the Red Sea, which is the most important shipping corridor in the world. It is “responsible for 12% of international trade and almost a third of global container traffic”. When vessel traffic is disrupted along this waterway, insurance premiums skyrocket, retail commodity prices rise, and oil prices soar. This is why Western powers are committed to keeping these sea lanes permanently open, whatever the cost.

“Yemen said it would end the blockade of ships to Israel as soon as sufficient quantities of food, water and medicine were allowed into the Gaza Strip. I guess that's too much to ask."

Elizabeth Murray

read the article