Saudi Arabia Faces High Stakes Choices in Escalating War with Houthis The conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi rebels has reached a critical juncture, with Riyadh facing high stakes choices that could have far reaching consequences for global oil markets.
The Houthis' rapid advance towards the strategic Bab al Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, has forced Saudi Arabia to shut down its East West Pipeline, a vital conduit that carries around 4% of global oil supplies.
The situation is fraught with uncertainty, and neither side can afford to back down.