Swedish diplomat, UN Special Envoy for Yemen since 2021
Yemen's Houthi movement has declared an immediate maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, saying it will close the Bab al‑Mandab to Saudi vessels in retaliation for a reported Saudi blockade of Houthi ports and last week's strikes on Sanaa airport. The announcement has raised fears of renewed attacks on Red Sea shipping and wider disruption to oil routes that already bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
The US has ongoing shortages of long‑range missiles and interceptors amid the Iran war. Authorities are replenishing stockpiles, ramping up production, and monitoring ally readiness as munitions levels remain stressed. Multiple outlets report depleted Patriot and THAAD interceptors and widespread use of ATACMS, PrSM, Tomahawks, and other missiles.
Houthis have launched repeated drone, missile and naval strikes that have damaged Yemen’s Mocha port, killed dozens and forced the port’s suspension. The group has claimed a drone hit on Saudi Aramco’s Jazan refinery and renewed attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al‑Mandeb, while Yemeni government forces have mounted counter‑attacks across multiple fronts.
UN envoy Hans Grundberg has warned that Yemen faces a renewed large-scale conflict, jeopardising the 2022 truce and risking a broader regional confrontation. Attacks since July 13 have included a Saudi strike on Sanaa airport and Houthi assaults on Abha and Mokha, prompting talks aimed at averting a wider war.
A new wave of Houthi strikes targets Yemeni government sites and Red Sea shipping, raising fears of a broader return to civil conflict. The attacks follow a series of cross-border strikes and a blockade threat that has intensified regional security concerns.
Houthi attacks on Yemen’s Red Sea coast have intensified, striking Mocha and al-Makha ports as government forces and militants trade strikes across Marib, Taiz and the western coast. The violence threatens shipping lanes, raises regional tensions, and risks drawing in regional powers as talks for a ceasefire stall.
The latest from Al Jazeera, AP, Independent and France 24 shows a surge in Yemen-Houthi-Israel- Lebanon-Israel-Hezbollah clashes. Houthis claim to have shot down a Saudi reconnaissance plane; Yemen's conflict has intensified around Bab al-Mandeb and al-Jawf, with air strikes and drone battles raising regional tensions. UN warns risk of full-scale war.
The Houthi movement has expanded its control along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including Mokha and surrounding areas, raising concerns over shipping routes through Bab al-Mandab. The fighting has drawn in regional powers and threatens global oil supplies as the conflict tests Yemen’s government and international diplomacy.
The renewed Yemen conflict has escalated with a prison strike in Hazm, Jawf, and attacks across frontline provinces. Houthis claim the prison strike killed a child and left prisoners and a visitor trapped, while Saudi-led coalition forces counter with airstrikes. The fighting threatens shipping routes and the wider ceasefire, with dozens dead and thousands displaced.
Saudi officials have reported that air defences intercepted ballistic missiles and drones aimed at Riyadh, Taif and the Red Sea port of Yanbu after Houthi forces have seized Red Sea coast positions and tightened control of the Bab al‑Mandeb. Saudi civil defence has issued and later lifted alerts; there are no immediate confirmed civilian casualties.
Since early September 2026, renewed fighting in Yemen has displaced tens of thousands, with aid agencies warning of a mounting humanitarian crisis as civilians flee coastal towns and inland camps. Reports describe dire shelter, food, and medical needs amid a shifting front line near the Bab al-Mandab and Taiz region.
The latest round of tit-for-tat strikes has targeted Iranian oil tankers and U.S. ships in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island, with Iran and the U.S. exchanging retaliatory blows. The flare-up follows Houthi attacks on Saudi facilities and heightens fears for global oil shipments through the Hormuz chokepoint.
Houthi advances along Yemen’s coast and the capture of Mocha put Bab el-Mandeb at risk. The United States faces political pressure as it weighs whether to intervene, while Saudi Arabia seeks to protect Red Sea shipping amid Iran-linked disruptions.
The government has widened military fronts across Taiz, Marib, Al-Jawf and Bayda in a renewed push against the Houthis. Officials say the army is coordinating multi-front operations to retake Sanaa and defend key provinces, with concerns mounting over civilian casualties and humanitarian needs.
Houthi forces have seized large stretches of Yemen's Red Sea coast and islands, tightened control over the Bab al‑Mandeb shipping lane and have launched missiles, drones and ballistic rounds at Saudi cities including Riyadh and Yanbu. Saudi air defences have said they have intercepted strikes; residents have reported explosions and smoke. The advance has disrupted shipping and pushed global energy markets higher.
The conflict in Yemen has intensified near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, with Houthi advances threatening shipping lanes. The UK and other allies are expanding support to regional allies, while Western powers weigh their involvement as oil routes face new risks. Over 125,000 people have fled the fighting, and the Red Sea corridor remains a focal point for global trade.