Why the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz Matter to Britain – and to Israel

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply as regional attacks intensify, while Iran-aligned Houthi forces have renewed attacks on Saudi targets and disruption continues around Saudi oil infrastructure. For Israel, this is part of the wider strategic contest involving Iran and regional security. For Britain, the geography is distant but the consequences are not: oil prices, freight costs, inflation and supply chains can all be affected. The useful question is not simply what happened in Yemen or the Gulf, but why two narrow maritime routes can affect households and businesses in Britain.