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Once again, agree with most everything you wrote - except Yemen’s strategic position. If Yemen, with Iran’s support, mines the straits, and/or positions antiship missile batteries, the Suez Canal is effectively blocked and Europe is cut off from the Persian Gulf and points east.

No oil, no military power - which would be potentially fatal in a fast-moving war with Iran or Russia. Never dismiss a small, primitive country in a strategic position.

I don't argue with your point. Of course they could do it. I'm just saying they won't. They already know what happens when the canal is blocked. Just call Egypt for a history lesson. And the US is very well positioned to prevent any such attempt before it even starts. Internally, Yemen is a mess - the war has been absolutely devastating and cholera is killing more Yemenis than the Saudi attacks - as many as 10,000 cases of cholera per week! The 5th fleet is nearby, and Camp Lemmonier is on the other side of the strait in Djibouti which though relatively small it is the base from which we have launched most of our attacks in Yemen in support of the Saudis.

I realize countries don't always act rationally but the only reasons I can think of for Yemen to try such a thing would be either a) a cry for help (e.g. let us smash them to bits then beg for aid) or b) the Iranians play them for bigger fools than they have been already. I say they got way too many problems already to pull such a stunt. But if they did, we can deal with it. Anyway the point was, for now at least, Trump is playing a hand and Yemen probably is a factor but not a danger since Trump is the one who demanded the cease-fire. Clearly there is a diplomatic opening and I don't see the Yemen government pulling a Hirohito on us even if they are an Iranian puppet. Meanwhile it is clear Trump is going after the puppeteer.