At the narrow passage where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aden, a decade-long civil war has produced a new and consequential rupture. Iran-backed Houthi forces have seized territory along Yemen's Red Sea coast, bringing one of the world's most vital maritime corridors — the Bab al-Mandab Strait — under hostile influence. The human cost is immediate, as thousands of Yemenis flee, while the economic and strategic implications extend to oil markets, shipping lanes, and the foreign governments now choosing sides. Britain's decision to deploy refueling aircraft alongside Saudi jets marks yet anothe
Bab al-Mandab Strait: Why This Waterway Matters to Global Trade
Thousands of refugees have fled Yemen following Houthi seizure of Red Sea territory.