Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea have raised fears that the Middle East conflict could widen further and cause additional disruption to global trade. The group says it has targeted vessels near Yemen and warned ships away from Saudi ports, threatening the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial route between Europe and Asia.

Two Saudi vessels were reportedly hit this week, while the Houthis said 10 others turned back. The disruption follows Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, constraining energy and fertiliser supplies, and could also prevent Saudi Arabia from exporting oil via its Red Sea terminal after using an east-west pipeline to bypass Hormuz. The article places the attacks amid continued US strikes on Iranian military sites and renewed concern over regional escalation.