Houthi rebels in Yemen have seized the country's Red Sea coast in a rapid advance that has reshaped the regional conflict, with Iranian Revolutionary Guard advisers confirmed to have assisted in the offensive, according to sources cited by the Associated Press. The land grab, completed in less than 48 hours, marks the most direct Iranian intervention in Yemen since the civil war began in 2014 and has disrupted a critical Saudi bypass route for oil exports through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes on Houthi positions in response, while the rebels targeted Saudi territory for the first time in years, including a strike on the capital Riyadh and facilities belonging to state oil giant Aramco in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu. The escalation has pushed oil prices above $100 per barrel after a drone strike shut down a key Saudi oil pipeline, compounding disruptions to global energy supplies.
Immediate Impact on Shipping and Energy
The Houthi seizure of the Red Sea coast has threatened one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Saudi Arabia had relied on this route to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping lane already under strain. The closure or disruption of the Bab el-Mandeb could disrupt global oil supplies, increase shipping costs, and fuel inflation, according to analysts cited in multiple reports.
Saudi-backed Yemeni forces were routinely displaced by the Houthi advance, which extended the group’s control over strategic coastal areas. The rebels have since sought to seize additional high ground, including the Kahboub Mountains in Taiz and Hodeidah provinces, to further consolidate their position.
Regional Responses and Escalation Risks
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has requested U.S. military support to counter the Houthi offensive, but Washington has rebuffed the plea, according to reports. In response, Houthi military adviser Abed Mohammed al-Thawr warned that any U.S. intervention in the Bab el-Mandeb would be treated as a "red line", stating that the group would target American interests and close the strait to U.S. ships.
Thawr denied receiving directives from Iran but described the alliance as "one body", emphasizing solidarity with Tehran while asserting operational independence. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei dismissed recent remarks by President Trump as "a sign of desperation", confirming that U.S. and Iranian envoys held talks on Tuesday amid the escalating tensions.
Broader Context: Yemen’s Civil War and Proxy Dynamics
The Houthi offensive follows the collapse of a four-year truce in July, during which Saudi Arabia conducted hundreds of airstrikes on rebel positions. The rebels, who have controlled Yemen’s capital since 2014, now hold the Red Sea coast, a development that has strengthened their ability to disrupt Saudi oil exports and increase Iran’s regional leverage.
The conflict has drawn in multiple regional actors, with Iran backing the Houthis and Saudi Arabia supporting the internationally recognized Yemeni government. The sudden Houthi advance has introduced a new front in the wider Middle East conflict, raising concerns about further destabilization and prolonged economic repercussions for global markets.