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Recently uncovered Russian assistance to the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist group “shows how far Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to go to undermine the U.S.-led Western economic and political order” (The Wall Street Journal, subscription).

What’s going on: The Houthis, who have been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea since last year, “eventually began using Russian satellite data as they expanded their strikes, said a person familiar with the matter and two European defense officials. The data was passed through members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who were embedded with the Houthis in Yemen, one of the people said.”

Why it’s important: Russia has aimed to destabilize the Middle East as a way of distracting the U.S., according to analysts.  

• “The widening conflict in the Middle East, triggered by last year’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel, has absorbed resources and attention at a time when Washington has sought to focus on the threats from Russia and China.”

Effects on trade: From November 2023, when the attacks began, to February 2024, commercial shipping in the Red Sea was down 90%.

• Alternate routes added approximately $1 million in fuel costs and one to two weeks in shipping time, according to a recent report from the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Russia seeking allies: Middle East conflicts also serve to keep U.S. attention away from Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, according to experts, particularly as Putin seeks to fortify alliances with Iran and North Korea.

• Those stronger ties are helping Moscow’s war effort; North Korea recently sent 10,000 troops to train in Russia (Associated Press).

The U.S. response: “By April, the U.S. had spent some $1 billion on munitions to knock out Houthi drones and missiles and protect shipping in the Red Sea. The U.S. has since gone further and earlier this month sent B-2 Spirit bombers to strike Houthi arsenals.”