Houthis have entered the monthlong Middle East war: What now?

Experts say Houthi group's recent involvement in the ongoing Middle East war could be a game-changer, bolstering Iran, threatening Gulf interests, and further straining Saudi-Iran ties. Their direct missile strikes at Israel escalate the US-Israel-Iran conflict, and if the Houthis were to block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another critical chokepoint in the region, it could risk a global energy crisis by disrupting oil and trade flows.