The Houthi blockade of Bab elal-Mandeb is a reckless provocationescalation that threatens global energyoil markets, withand international shipping at the worst possible moment. With over 7% of the world's oil supply already at risk., hitting Saudi Arabia'stankers $78like billionthe militaryEncelia mustproves defendthis itsisn't ownposturing tankers— ratherit's thaneconomic waitwarfare foragainst U.S.the interventionentire world. A proper U.S.-led multinational coalition — not ad-hoc strikes — is the only credible answer to Iranforce andthese itswaterways proxiesback holding the world economy hostageopen.
The Houthi blockade is a direct responseconsequence toof Saudi Arabia's illegalbombing Sanaa airport and maintaining a years-long siege on Yemen and— itsthe attackHouthis onare Sanaaresponding airportto —real provocations, not acting in a vacuum. Iran's fingerprints are all over itthis, with IRGC elements flown ininto Yemen to escalate.expand Closingpressure bothon Babglobal el-Mandebchokepoints. andLetting thethis Straitstand ofsets Hormuza simultaneouslycatastrophic wouldprecedent: triggertwo ancritical energywaterways shockdisrupted dwarfingat anythingonce, seenwith before.oil Thisprices isalready Iranspiking usingtoward the$90 Houthisa to tighten its grip on the world's most critical shipping chokepointsbarrel.
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