A Middle East expert has warned that any attack by Yemen’s Houthi group on the Red Sea could significantly worsen the already tense regional situation.
Farea Al-Muslimi, a research fellow at Chatham House, said the Houthis’ involvement in the ongoing conflict is of “huge significance” as they are positioned along the strategically vital Red Sea trade route.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4, he said the Houthis have not yet indicated plans to target Red Sea shipping, adding that the group may be trying to avoid provoking further US military action.
In 2025, Donald Trump launched a bombing campaign alongside the United Kingdom to deter Houthi attacks in the region.
Al-Muslimi warned that any renewed blockade of the Red Sea, combined with existing threats around the Strait of Hormuz, could severely disrupt global trade. “It’s a nightmare. We already have a nightmare, and this would make it worse,” he said.
With inputs from BBC