Yemen’s Houthi Rebellion: A Dire Threat to Global Trade
HE is the ruthless religious maniac whose face is never seen in his brutal desert fiefdom 3,500 miles from Britain’s shores. But Islamist Abdul-Malik al-Houthi is the reason why UK consumers may soon pay more for everything from cars and condoms to the Great British cuppa.
Supply Chain Disruptions and the Houthi Threat
Yemen’s “King of the Houthis” is already holding more than a fifth of the world’s sea trade to ransom with drone and missile attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. His strikes have sparked supply fears for big British firms such as Marks & Spencer, Next, Poundland, and Primark. And the terrorist rebel leader has now ramped up his war on global trade by threatening to attack cargo ships hundreds of miles off his stronghold.
The Cost of Conflict: Economic and Humanitarian Consequences
Shipping companies are already reeling at the extra cost of an average £800,000 every time they are forced to re-route, coupled with two-week delays. But completely cutting off the Southern Ocean route could drive many firms to the wall and spark shortages, price hikes, and further economic downturns across Europe. Sainsbury’s recently warned that tea supplies are at risk — which has been linked to the Houthis’ Red Sea attacks.
The Mastermind Behind the Mayhem: Abdul-Malik al-Houthi
Al-Houthi is the leader of a Yemeni desert clan who claims to be able to trace his ancestry back to the Prophet Muhammad. His rebel group ousted the regime of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi in 2015 and seized swathes of territory including capital Sanaa. The Shia Muslim warlord — famed for his ferocity and sending children as young as ten into battle — grabbed power by forging an alliance with those controlling Iran.
The Global Impact of Houthi Aggression
But al-Houthi’s latest warning affects vessels diverting hundreds of miles away from his lair around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope towards Europe. Automotive businesses including Michelin, Suzuki, Tesla, and Volvo have all been forced to either suspend or reduce production thanks to component shortages. Oil firms including BP and Shell have also been pressured to divert amid threats to fuel prices that threaten to rekindle the spectre of inflation.
International Response and the Path Forward
US and British RAF war planes have launched a series of strikes on Houthi drone and missiles bases in Yemen, which have so far failed to stop attacks. And Iran — emboldened by the savage success of its Hamas allies in Israel — is feared to be honing and distributing increasingly dangerous weapons to its comrades in Yemen. The international community faces a critical challenge in addressing the Houthi threat without further destabilizing the region or exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.