Yemen fighting intensifies around Bab el-Mandeb Strait as Houthi forces seize territory

Fighting in Yemen intensified on Tuesday after Iran‑backed Houthi forces seized a series of positions surrounding the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait, a narrow waterway that links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Yemeni government troops responded with artillery and missile counterstrikes, while Saudi Arabia launched air raids targeting Houthi sites in the contested area. The seizure gives the rebels control over high ground that overlooks the strait, heightening their ability to threaten vessels transiting one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints.

The Houthis also reported launching attacks inside southern Saudi Arabia and warned they could disrupt commercial shipping through the Bab el‑Mandeb, prompting concerns among regional authorities and global trade partners. Officials from both sides have not confirmed the full extent of the damage, but the escalation underscores the fragility of the cease‑fire that has held intermittently since 2022 and raises the risk of broader instability in a corridor that handles roughly one‑quarter of global oil shipments. International observers are monitoring the situation closely as both parties continue to exchange fire, with the outlook for a swift de‑escalation remaining uncertain.