At the narrow passage where the Red Sea meets the Indian Ocean, a militant force has moved into position over one of the arteries through which the modern world breathes — carrying oil, goods, and the quiet assumptions of global commerce. The Houthis, backed by Iran, now hold territory adjacent to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a waterway that has grown only more indispensable since the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed to Saudi oil exports. Their advance does not merely threaten a shipping lane; it places a hand on a valve that, if turned, could alter energy prices, reroute trade, and deepen
Houthi territorial gains threaten Red Sea shipping and global oil markets
At least 46,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since fighting escalated.