Houthis seize Red Sea islands, attack Saudi targets

Saudi Arabia and Egypt have jointly demanded unrestricted access to the Red Sea in response to recent Houthi attacks, which now control the southern entrance to the vital waterway. The conflict between the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels escalated in July, with Houthis imposing a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia and targeting its ships in the Red Sea.

In a recent surge, they seized control of Yemen's Red Sea coast and strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, a crucial route for Saudi crude exports that has recently been blocked by the wider Middle East war. On Tuesday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo to discuss the crisis, with Sisi expressing Egypt's support for Saudi Arabia's efforts to safeguard its security and stability.

The resurgence of Yemen's war has prompted Riyadh to respond swiftly. Earlier this week, the crown prince reportedly requested US intervention, but his plea was denied. The Houthis have argued that there is no threat to navigation in the Bab al-Mandab from Saudi vessels, but any attacks could deter shipping and impact Egypt, as the Red Sea serves as a gateway to the Suez Canal - a critical source of foreign revenue for Cairo.

Qatar has warned that the closure of the Bab al-Mandab would have catastrophic consequences for the world.

Saudi Arabia is also facing ongoing Houthi attacks on its territory, issuing alerts for cities including Makkah, Jeddah, and Taif. A Saudi-led anti-Houthi coalition reported that missile and drone strikes earlier in the week injured 13 civilians, while the Houthis have targeted Saudi oil infrastructure, contributing to crude prices surpassing $100 per barrel. The coalition vowed to respond firmly to deter the "hostile and extremist" actions of the Houthi group.

The ongoing fighting in Yemen has exacerbated a severe humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations reporting that 100,000 people have been internally displaced and thousands more have fled to Djibouti. Yemen's civil war began in 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa, leading to a Saudi-led intervention the following year.

A Houthi strike on Monday killed eight government soldiers, prompting a retaliatory strike from Riyadh, which the Houthis claim they have not stopped despite their own attacks. The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to address the Houthi offensive.