Adel Abdel Ghafar from the Middle East Council on Global Affairs spoke to Al Jazeera about the motivation behind Yemen’s Houthi rebel attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

“First of all, they want to show solidarity with Palestine. Secondly, they want to use these attacks as leverage with their negotiations with the Saudis ongoing now for the truce”.

“This also shows the role of Iran, which really enables the Houthis in the region to play a role as well. So should this continue, we can see a wider conflagration not just in that area but also in the north with Hezbollah and Lebanon”.

Opinion

Editorial

Shifting climate tone
Updated 08 May, 2026

Shifting climate tone

Our financial system is geared towards short-term, risk-averse lending, while climate adaptation and green infrastructure require patient, long-term capital.
Honour and impunity
08 May, 2026

Honour and impunity

THE Sindh Assembly’s discussion on karo-kari this week reminds us of the enduring nature of ‘honour’ killings...
No real change
08 May, 2026

No real change

THE Indian sports ministry’s move to allow Pakistani players and teams to participate in multilateral events ...
A breakthrough?
07 May, 2026

A breakthrough?

The whole world would welcome an end to this pointless war.
Missed opportunity
07 May, 2026

Missed opportunity

A BIG opportunity to industrialise Pakistan has just passed us by. This has been reconfirmed by the investment...
Punishing dissent
07 May, 2026

Punishing dissent

THE Sindh government’s treatment of the Aurat March this week was a disgraceful assault on democratic rights. What...