Analysis: Houthi and Al-Shabab ties raise alarm over widening threat to Red Sea shipping

Purported arms sales, military training and growing contacts between Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis and Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabab are raising alarm over a partnership that could strengthen both groups and widen the threat to international shipping. US Africa Command has warned that the relationship poses an escalating danger to regional stability, potentially increasing Al-Shabab’s ability to carry out attacks in the Horn of Africa. And giving the Houthis greater access to maritime co