PANews reported on March 28th that, according to Jinshi, energy and commodities columnist Javier Blas stated that the Houthi rebels have joined the fighting, claiming to have launched a ballistic missile at Israel. A more significant question regarding their involvement is whether they will attempt to disrupt shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, thereby effectively undermining Saudi Arabia's efforts to bypass the Strait of Hormuz via its east-west oil pipelines. So far, we have not seen any Houthi activity in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. However, this does not mean it won't happen in the future. Currently, oil tankers continue to transit the strait.


