As if tensions weren’t high enough, Iran seems determined to turn the waters in the Middle East into a real-life game of geopolitical chess. The Iran-backed Houthis are now causing a ruckus at the Babel Mandeb Strait, another crucial waterway, which is making everyone rethink their naval navigation really quickly. Iran has already got the Strait of Hormuz on lockdown, so this new move is like adding a cherry on top of their “make-life-difficult-for-the-world” sundae. It’s almost as if they’re trying to win an award for causing global headaches.
This particular strait is crucial because a significant chunk of the world’s energy supply flows through it. Now, when these shenanigans start blocking these important waterways, it doesn’t just clog up traffic; it jacks up oil prices and gives more folks a reason to bypass the normal routes. If shippers are forced to take the scenic detour all the way around Africa, they might as well start offering cruises while they’re at it because it’ll take that long.
Retired experts like Vice Admiral Kevin Donigan could probably give a seminar on why this is not great for anybody. While the sailors onboard those oil tankers that got hit might think it’s a bad day at work, others must be wondering how this affects their wallets and gas pumps at home. The Houthis, with a little help from their friends—Iran—launched an attack on two Saudi oil tankers, creating an unwelcome situation for those hoping for a serene day on the open sea.
As if there was any doubt about who’s poking the bear, intelligence reports indicate that Iran is quite active, flying not just paper planes into Yemen, but real-life IRGC advisors and fancy military equipment. It’s almost impressive how they manage to keep so many plates spinning in the Middle East with their advisors acting like they’re auditioning for a new season of a military reality show. The stated aim is to pressure the U.S. and its allies in the region, because apparently, Iran thinks it hasn’t caused us enough trouble yet.
President Trump’s Operation Rough Rider significantly kneecapped the Houthi’s more overt capabilities back in the day, but it seems like they’ve found some new tricks up their sleeves—or under their keffiyehs. As the old saying goes, when you play with fire, you’ll probably annoy someone with a higher defense budget. As this tangled knot of Middle Eastern politics tightens, the world holds its breath and checks its gas prices with bated, albeit slightly exasperated, anticipation.
