The war in the Gulf is spreading to the Red Sea and after Hormuz, the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb is also heating up.
Yemen's Houthis, allies of Iran, attacked two Saudi oil tankers, and the new front sent oil prices soaring: crude oil soared above $100 a barrel for the first time since May, sending stock markets closing in the red.
These scenarios have ignited the ire of US President Donald Trump, who has threatened "severe military punishment" against both Tehran and the Houthis, saying he is ready to launch "a massive attack, larger than any other." "From now on," Trump added, "all damage to the ships will be compensated with Iranian funds held by the United States." Tehran quickly responded, calling it an "explosive precedent," threatening retaliation of its own.
Why the Bab al-Mandab Strait? According to regional analysts, the reasoning is almost inevitable for Tehran: the effectiveness of the Hormuz blockade is weakening, while a growing share of Gulf exports are already being diverted to the Red Sea via the Saudi-controlled East-West pipeline. In this context, threatening Bab al-Mandab strikes at the very escape route Riyadh has built for itself. And it shows Washington that Iran still retains regional leverage despite the losses it has suffered.
(Unioneonline/lf)