The latest wave of US air strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen marks a dangerous escalation in a regional conflict that is fast becoming a global concern. The strikes, justified as a response to persistent Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, underscore how localised in surgencies can have disproportionate effects on international stability. What was once an internal Yemeni struggle has transformed into a theatre for global confrontation, drawing in major powers and endangering critical maritime routes. At the heart of this confrontation is the strategic Red Sea, a waterway through which nearly 15 per cent of global maritime trade passes.

The Houthis’ targeting of commercial vessels ~ under the banner of supporting Palestinians in the Gaza conflict ~ has disrupted global shipping routes and forced companies to divert around southern Africa, increasing costs and delaying supplies. The consequences extend beyond regional rivalries,........

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