Overview
- Houthi fighters swept down Yemen’s Red Sea coast and captured the port of Mokha plus islands including Perim/Mayyun and parts of the Hanish group during a rapid offensive on Thursday with Saudi airstrikes reported against Mokha airport.
- Those gains place the Houthis on the Yemeni side of the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait which carries roughly 8 million barrels per day of crude and could force tankers to reroute around Africa adding weeks and extra cost to shipments.
- Multiple reports cite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps advisers, funding and weapons linked to the operation while Iranian officials publicly deny command or control of the Houthis.
- Regional and international responses have been mixed with Saudi airstrikes on Houthi positions the United States striking Iran‑linked tankers and Pakistan delivering diplomatic warnings to Tehran without committing forces to combat in Yemen.
- The offensive has caused hundreds of deaths and about 46,000 people displaced and has driven Brent crude above $100 a barrel while shipping firms increase insurance and lengthen routes with direct impacts on fuel and goods prices for consumers.