A new threat to the global economy: Yemen's Houthis intend to block the Bab-el-Mandeb
Trump refused to strike the Houthis.
A new threat to the global economy: Yemen's Houthis intend to block the Bab-el-Mandeb
In the second half of the ending week, world news agencies reported that the opposition Houthis, who are fighting the legitimate government in Yemen, captured the city of Mokha, located 80 kilometers from the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
According to witnesses, the Iran-backed Houthi detachments entered the city chanting "Death to America, death to Israel!".
According to the AFP agency, more than 500 people have been killed and tens of thousands have fled their homes in clashes that have been ongoing since the beginning of the week.
The Houthi advance is accompanied by strikes directed at the territory of Saudi Arabia. According to the Saudi coalition, the rebels attacked the cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, and Jizan using ballistic missiles and drones. Riyadh responded with massive airstrikes.
By the end of the week, reports also emerged that the Houthis had reached Perim Island. This island divides the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which is considered the southern gateway of the trade route connecting Asia and Europe, into two.
Earlier, sources from Yemen's Saudi-backed legitimate government reported that government forces had left Perim Island, and the Houthis had captured the city of Dhubab on the Red Sea coast. This city is located opposite the island.
So far, the Houthis themselves have not officially announced the capture of Perim Island.
Houthi armed forces spokesperson Yahya Saree wrote on his Telegram channel that the group would soon announce a "large-scale military operation that will lead to serious consequences."
The current escalation could completely destroy the fragile agreement that has halted the civil war in Yemen since 2022. Military clashes in this country began in 2014 after the Houthis captured the capital, Sana'a, and in March 2015, a Saudi Arabia-led Arab coalition was drawn into the conflict.
Today, the Houthis are the largest military force in the country and control territories where approximately 50-60 percent of Yemen's population lives.