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Hisham Al-Omeisy Predicts Houthi Strategy Aims to Exert Pressure on Global Maritime Trade

Yemen is facing a risk of backsliding into full-scale conflict as the Houthi militia continues to-strike crude oil tankers and infrastructure in the Red Sea. Hisham Al-Omeisy, a Yemeni conflict analyst, noted that the Houthis are using the wider Middle East war to distract from domestic failures in reforming the government and improving livelihoods. Al-Omeisy observed that the Houthis aim to exert pressure on global maritime trade by targeting strategically important waterways like the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. While Saudi Arabia seeks to secure the Red Sea to protect its economic transformation under Vision 2030, it faces the challenge of forming alliances to spread the security burden. Analysts suggest that while Saudi Arabia has spearheaded a multinational Maritime Defense Alliance, the effectiveness of the new coalition remains to be proven. Meanwhile, the United Nations has urged all parties to halt actions that risk returning Yemen to full-scale conflict, as the country continues to suffer from one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

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