Iran-backed Houthis capture Yemen’s Red Sea coastline on Bab-el-Mandeb Strait

Key Points:

• Houthi rebels have rapidly taken control of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline, including the strategic island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the port city of Mocha, tightening their grip on a crucial global shipping route.
• The conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government has escalated, raising fears of a full-scale war and threatening global oil exports by potentially disrupting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key transit point linking Europe and Asia.
• Saudi Arabia’s oil exports, already affected by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, face further risks as the Houthis have attacked oil infrastructure, including a possible incident along the East-West pipeline, a vital alternative route for Saudi oil.
• The Houthis declared maritime navigation safe for all except Saudi vessels and claimed significant military gains, while experts caution that although they control key areas, full control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait remains unlikely but would still pose a major threat to global trade.
• The conflict has caused severe humanitarian consequences, with at least 46,000 people displaced recently, prompting calls from the UN for all parties to ensure safe humanitarian access and protection for civilians and aid workers.