The US special envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking, confirmed that his country is studying with its partners in the region how to respond to the Houthis’ contacts with Russia and with the Al-Shabaab movement in Somalia, which is ideologically affiliated with Al-Qaeda.

The Wall Street Journal quoted Lenderking as saying that one of the unfortunate repercussions of the conflict in Gaza is that the Houthis have increased their contacts with other malicious actors in the region and beyond, describing this as a very disturbing trend.

He pointed out that Russia is using Yemen as a means of taking revenge on the United States, noting that the Houthis’ relationship with the Somali Al-Shabaab movement has become very strong as both parties are looking for ways to increase the risks and threat to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

In another context, UN officials warned of the repercussions of the expanding conflict in the Middle East and attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, which pose a “major danger” to the prospects for economic recovery in the region.

The United Nations Trade and Development Agency said, “High risks remain as conflicts expand, exacerbating tensions across the region, with negative repercussions for international shipping in the Red Sea.”

She explained that security threats in the Red Sea have led to an increase in both shipping costs and carbon dioxide emissions, as the Houthis have been launching attacks on ships for about a year.