All articles tagged with #houthis
The Iranian-backed Houthis have intensified fighting in western Yemen, launching a major ground offensive in Hodeidah province to seize strategic positions overlooking Hays on the Red Sea, raising fears of broader escalation as casualties mount and regional actors weigh in on ceasefire limits and Iran’s broader moves toward Sanaa.
A cargo ship reported being attacked by unknown armed assailants off Yemen’s Red Sea coast near al-Hudaydah. UKMTO is investigating and has urged vessels to transit with caution; no group has claimed responsibility. The Houthis have previously targeted shipping in the region and are designated terrorists by the U.S.
Oil markets remain vulnerable as the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed and a Houthi disruption of Bab el-Mandeb could force Saudi exports to reroute around Africa, adding weeks to shipments, inflating freight costs and potentially removing millions of barrels per day from global supply; Aramco’s East-West pipeline has mitigated some constraints, but a bigger Red Sea disruption could trigger further price spikes.
Israel’s December 2025 recognition of Somaliland triggers a fragmented diplomatic dynamic: no major coalition endorses the move, Somalia and the AU oppose redrawing borders, and the US remains cautious. Israel seeks a Berbera base to counter Houthi/Iranian threats, potentially giving Somaliland strategic security and Ethiopia new port options, but risks escalating maritime conflict, heightening Djibouti’s pushback, and turning Red Sea trade into a battlefield before a broader governance framework exists.
Analysts warn the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—the Red Sea gateway—could become the world’s second major shipping chokepoint after Hormuz as the Houthis enter the conflict, risking disruption to about 14% of global maritime trade and roughly 4.2 million barrels of oil per day. While the strait cannot be fully closed, attacks or rising insurance costs could slow Red Sea transit via the Suez Canal, potentially hobbling supply chains and raising energy prices worldwide.
Saudi Arabia redirected millions of barrels to the Yanbu port on the Red Sea to offset potential Hormuz disruption, but Iran-backed Houthis entering the war threaten to close Bab el-Mandeb. Losing Yanbu’s flow or a blocked strait could push Brent higher—potentially to $150+ per barrel—while Asia would bear the brunt, with ships rerouted via longer paths and costs rising for insurers, freight, and energy.
On Day 30 of the Iran conflict, Israel says it is prepared for a multi-front war after Houthi missiles targeted southern Israel (intercepted), while Iran’s speaker claims the U.S. may be planning a ground invasion. The United States has stepped up deployments, with the USS Tripoli arriving in the region and a Marine unit expected, and Iran allowing Pakistani-flagged ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Regional diplomacy among Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey seeks de-escalation in Islamabad. Across the region, attacks and bombardments affect Tehran, Lebanon, and infrastructure, as protests over the widening crisis continue.
OilPrice.com argues Iran is baiting the U.S. into a ground war to extract a more favorable deal, with Houthis attacks and dual chokepoint disruptions threatening Hormuz and Bab el‑Mandeb and potentially halting up to 45% of global oil flows, pushing crude prices toward $150–$200+ a barrel. The escalation could force U.S. deployments and policy responses, while waivers and backing for Russia and China could affect the broader balance; Trump could claim limited victory and withdraw, even as the price shock risks persist.
Oil prices surged above $116 a barrel as Trump floated seizing Iran’s oil and Iran-backed Houthis widened attacks, raising concerns that the Middle East conflict could intensify and disrupt global supply routes like the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab. Brent traded around $114–$116 and WTI near $101, with analysts warning prices could spike further if the fighting persists. The market stayed volatile as investors weighed geopolitical risk and the potential economic impact of a protracted conflict.
Oil prices surged as Iran permitted a small number of ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing conflict, while Tehran discouraged talks and warned the strait would stay open only for vessels it clears. Trump claimed regime change and voiced optimism for a deal, even as direct talks remained unconfirmed; the war widened with Yemen’s Houthis threatening Bab el-Mandeb, adding to supply-chain fears. Markets reacted with Brent around $115–$116 a barrel and WTI near $102, signaling heightened volatility as global energy routes remain under pressure.
The Houthis’ entry into the Iran–Israel conflict could mean either targeted strikes on Israel or, more consequentially, leveraging their position to threaten or close Bab al-Mandab and disrupt Red Sea shipping, risking higher costs and oil prices and broad regional instability; Saudi-Yemeni dynamics, southern faction interests, and past ceasefires complicate outcomes, and UN warnings say escalation could prolong Yemen’s civil war and civilian suffering.
Two months into the Middle East conflict, Israel says it is prepared for a multi-front war after Houthi missiles were fired toward southern Israel, while Iran’s leadership claims its forces are waiting for a U.S. ground invasion. The U.S. has boosted its regional presence, including the arrival of the USS Tripoli, with reports of additional Marine units to follow. Iran agreed to allow 20 Pakistani-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz as diplomacy continues in Pakistan and at talks among Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Fighting and strikes continue across Israel, Lebanon and Iran, with infrastructure damage and protests underscoring the crisis’s widening reach.
The conflict across the Middle East appears to be expanding: Tehran is hit by heavy bombardment as Iran’s war widens with Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis joining the fight, including missiles fired toward Israel, while the United States deploys assets such as the USS Tripoli and Pakistan hosts high-level talks with Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia aimed at de-escalation and safeguarding regional energy routes.
Houthis confirm a second attack on Israel, marking their first direct entry into the Israel-US war on Iran and signaling a broader regional escalation as missiles and drones strike across Lebanon, Iran, Oman, the UAE and beyond; Israel steps up strikes in Lebanon with evacuations ordered, the UAE reports injuries from a missile intercept, and regional diplomacy heats up with Pakistan-Iran talks and US Marines arriving in the Middle East amid ongoing Hormuz-related security concerns.
Tehran was hit by a heavy wave of airstrikes damaging residential areas and the Iran University of Science and Industry as a 2,500-strong U.S. Marines contingent arrived in the region; the war widened with Yemen’s Houthis launching missiles at Israel, while strikes across the Gulf and Lebanon produced civilian casualties and raised fears for global oil routes via the Strait of Hormuz.