Saudi Arabia's oil shipments were rerouted through the Red Sea because Hormuz had already become a war zone. That workaround is now under pressure. Houthi forces have moved along Yemen's Red Sea coast and arrived at Perim, a small island within the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and their presence there complicates the kingdom's alternative export path. The numbers matter here: roughly 7% of the world's petroleum supplies and 12% of global trade typically move through Bab el-Mandeb. Riyadh has reportedly asked the U.S. for military assistance, and Washington has not committed to stepping into another Houthi fight at this time. Saudi Arabia left one dangerous strait behind, and the replacement route is now facing its own set of problems. Source: Reuters / Writer: Daniyal