Yemen’s Houthi militants have claimed control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a crucial maritime passage that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, according to reports from BBC News. The group asserts that while they have secured the strait, maritime navigation remains safe for all vessels except those from Saudi Arabia.
The recent developments follow a rapid advance by the Houthis along Yemen’s coastline, which has seen them seize significant territory. In response, the Yemeni Armed Forces have launched counterattacks, targeting Houthi positions in the city of Mokha, located approximately 80 kilometers north of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Military spokesperson Majid al-Nuzaili reported that these strikes resulted in the destruction of vehicles and weapons, as well as casualties among Houthi fighters.
The Houthis captured Mokha on Thursday, prompting a wave of displacement as residents fled to Aden, where Yemen’s internationally recognized government is based. Local sources indicate that government forces have also conducted air strikes against Houthi positions in the Taiz and Ibb governorates, which are adjacent to the Red Sea coast.
The United Nations has raised alarms over the escalating humanitarian crisis, stating that at least 76,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since July, with the number quadrupling in just the past week. The UN described the situation as a “rapidly worsening displacement crisis,” highlighting the dire conditions faced by families forced to flee their homes.
According to the UN, many displaced individuals are moving at night, often with little more than the clothes on their backs. They are described as exhausted and lacking basic resources, with no safe place to seek refuge.
The ongoing conflict and territorial shifts have also impacted global markets, with crude oil prices surpassing $100 a barrel for the first time since July. This surge in energy prices has raised concerns about inflation and increased government borrowing costs across the region.
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