World
Houthis: Maritime Threats and Iranian Airlift Intensify Pressure on Riyadh
Houthi rebels have declared their intention to block Saudi vessels in the Red Sea, according to Al Jazeera. At the same time, Iran has attempted to establish an airlift between Tehran and Sanaa to deploy military advisors and drone technicians to Houthi-controlled zones. The Houthis also threaten navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb, encircling Saudi Arabia on both its maritime flanks. Riyadh, the world's leading crude oil exporter, has so far avoided direct confrontation with Tehran for nearly a decade.