A week of Houthi attacks threatens Saudi oil and rattles markets
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have made their biggest land grab in years, reigniting Yemen's 12-year long civil war and pushing up global fuel prices.
A week of Houthi attacks on Saudi oil and key maritime choke points has disrupted markets and raised global fuel prices. The Iran-backed rebels have extended their reach into a crucial shipping route, capturing a Red Sea port city and several islands near the Bab el-Mandeb strait – a narrow gateway through which 12% of world trade passes in peacetime.
The conflict has reignited Yemen's 12-year civil war, which has already claimed over 150,000 lives and pushed the country to the brink of famine. Saudi Arabia, along with its allies, is struggling to contain the Houthis, who are demanding the kingdom lift a long-standing blockade on the territories they control. The US, which has historically supported Saudi Arabia, has shown no interest in intervening in this latest round of attacks.
The Houthis' success in capturing strategic locations, such as Mokha and the Bab el-Mandeb islands, has allowed them to more easily harass shipping in the Red Sea and establish themselves as the dominant power broker in the critical waterway. Regional mediators, including Oman, Turkey, and the UAE, have attempted to broker a diplomatic solution, but progress appears unlikely without a breakthrough in the broader Iran conflict.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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