Iran-backed Houthi forces seize Yemen's Red Sea coast and Bab al-Mandeb Strait

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have seized control of the country's entire Red Sea coast and key Bab al-Mandeb Strait islands, displacing at least 46,000 people and prompting airstrikes from Saudi Arabia.

Key points

• The Houthi advance included taking control of Mokha airport and the coastal town of Dhubab, threatening major international shipping lanes used as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.
• The United Nations' International Organization for Migration reported that at least 46,000 people have been displaced as fighting escalated.
• The rapid territorial gains risk ending a fragile truce that largely halted Yemen's civil war since 2022.
• Global oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel and US diesel prices surpassed $6 a gallon following the escalation and security concerns in the maritime chokepoint.

Why it matters

The Houthi takeover of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait threatens global shipping and oil supplies along a critical maritime corridor, driving up energy prices and risking a broader regional conflict.