Saudi-backed Yemeni forces repel Houthis from Red Sea

Saudi-backed Yemeni forces have successfully expelled the Houthis from key areas surrounding the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on the Red Sea, following a major counteroffensive. The reclaiming of coastal areas, which were seized by the rebels during their recent lightning advance, reduces the Houthis' ability to significantly disrupt energy flows.

However, this counteroffensive, which some Saudi and Yemeni pundits consider a "zero hour," could potentially escalate the Iran war, further disrupting energy markets. Saudi Aramco's chief has warned that global oil stockpiles are now "scarily thin." The kingdom's previous war against the Houthis resulted in a yearslong quagmire and devastating humanitarian crisis.

Former Saudi intelligence chief Prince Turki Al-Faisal has stated that restraint "is no longer operable."

Brief written by urgent.news from Semafor's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.