The UN Security Council has issued its most dramatic alert yet, demanding an immediate halt to Houthi missile and drone strikes that now threaten global shipping routes. But the real shock came when China and Russia broke ranks, abstaining as the West pushed for tougher action. Sanctions have widened, the arms-smuggling crackdown is intensifying, and maritime security fears are rising fast. With Red Sea attacks linked to the Gaza war and global trade at risk, the world may be heading into a dangerous new phase.