Yemen faces a new challenge amid prospects of confrontation

The conflict in Yemen has entered a new chapter with a declaration by the Houthis that they are imposing a maritime siege on all shipping to Saudi Arabia.The Yemeni rebel group, also known as Ansar Allah (or supporters of God), has attacked a number of Saudi tankers in the Red Sea.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3How shipping insurance rates are rising, as Hormuz, Bab al-Mandeb shut downlist 2 of 3Rubio says Iran ‘begging’ for a deal with US but not ready to make onelist 3 of 3Iran, Houthis strike tankers as US bombing continues: What’s the latest?end of listThis development has placed the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the strategic waterway that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean, at the heart of the war between the United States and Iran, and amplifies pressure on global trade routes.The Iranian-backed Houthis, who seized Yemeni capital Sanaa in 2014, have threatened to close the strait, the route through which much of Europe’s energy supplies pass. It is also a key passage for imports to Saudi Arabia.The Houthis’ decision to announce a maritime blockade cannot be separated from the turmoil created by the ongoing war between Washington and Te...