Nike and the Houthi Red Sea ship attacks

Two-part video special: We explain what’s behind the Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and what are the ramifications for world trade.

The enormous impact that Houthi attacks are having on shipping in the Red Sea continues.

The repeated missile and drone strikes although unsophisticated, threaten to undermine a trillion dollars worth of global trade that transits the Red Sea and the Suez Canal en route to Europe, North Africa and the Americas every year.

The geographic chokepoint at the opening of the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea is the Bab el-Mandeb. A 32km crossing splitting Africa and the Middle East.

At this crossroads, not only does global commerce intersect with the spiralling regional conflict between Israel and Hamas, but also the consequences of decades of misdirected foreign policy and the shocking impacts of years of deprivation, civil war, famine, and colonialism.

So, while the US and its allies fight in aid of defending global commerce against the Houthi group supported by Iran, Yemen, the home of a globally forgotten war, makes its voice heard. Now that they’ve found an audience, what do they want, and who will be willing to listen?

Watch our two-part video explainer to find out the story behind this complicated emergency.

Part 1: What about my Nikes? What’s happening in the Red Sea.

Part 2: Can we live without the Suez Canal?

Professor Sarah Phillips and Professor Michael Bell from the University of Sydney provided expert knowledge and insight to help tell the story.

Originally published under Creative Commons by 360info™.