A Yemeni governorate at the crossroads of conflict and energy routes
This week the Iran‑aligned Houthis have seized Yemen’s Red Sea coast and taken islands in the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait, including Mocha, Mayyun (Perim) and the Hanish islands; Saudi and pro‑government forces have launched air strikes in response, the offensive has killed hundreds, displaced tens of thousands and pushed oil prices above $100 a barrel.
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement among Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan remains defensive, but recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia are testing the alliance’s credibility and the readiness of member states to mobilize. Officials say operations would be defined by Saudi requests, with consultations ongoing.
The Houthis have intensified attacks on Red Sea shipping and Saudi energy infrastructure, raising tensions as they seize Mokha and Perim and threaten Bab al-Mandab. Saudi Arabia has vowed to defend its sovereignty amid calls for unity at the UN; global energy markets respond with volatility.
Yemeni authorities have moved to resume crude exports from Hadramout and Al-Dhabba ports, directing revenues toward salaries and services. Security forces are tightening patrols around oil facilities and transport routes amid rising tensions with the STC and ongoing clashes with the Houthis. Officials warn that resuming exports will require robust protection for pipelines and ports, and that trust from buyers hinges on sustained security.
Tensions in the Red Sea have intensified as Houthis escalate maritime attacks and a blockade against Saudi-linked shipping. Attacks target vessels, widen regional confrontation, and threaten global energy routes amid ongoing US-Iran tensions.
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.
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.
France hosts Prince Mohammed bin Salman as leaders discuss diversifying energy and transport routes, including maritime and rail projects, amid regional and Middle East stability efforts. The Franco-Saudi partnership council is being convened to solidify cooperation.
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.
The Houthis have targeted civilian and energy facilities in southern Saudi cities, injuring dozens. A coalition spokesperson has condemned the attacks as dangerous and vowed to take all necessary measures to deter the group amid renewed hostilities near Bab al-Mandeb.
Palestinian casualties rise after Israeli strikes in Gaza; Houthis claim Saudi-led forces strike; Saudi defenses intercept a drone toward Mecca. Ceasefire talks remain fragile as regional tensions widen.
Armed clashes have intensified as government forces backed by air power advance on Taiz and coast fronts, while Houthi militants press operations along Marib and the Red Sea. Cross-border strikes have wounded civilians and displaced thousands, with regional powers watching closely.
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.