Yemen’s war is back: A new battle for Sanaa and the Red Sea

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Houthi Rebels Seize Mokha Port as U.S. Diesel Prices Hit $6 per Gallon

   Iran-backed Houthi rebels have captured the strategic Red Sea port city of Mokha, moving toward a stranglehold on the Bab el Mandeb strait. The advance follows a rapid reignition of conflict with the internationally backed Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia. In the United States, diesel prices reached a record $6 a gallon following the seizure. While the Houthis push toward the strait and the Hanish Islands, Yemeni generals reportedly requested air cover on Thursday that Saudi Arabia failed to provide. Simultaneously, Iran has deployed new electro-optical missiles against U.S. warships.

   Why it matters

   The capture of Mokha ends more than four years of relative calm in Yemen. Control of the Bab el Mandeb strait allows the Houthis to threaten global trade and energy supplies. This escalation coincides with broader IRGC attacks on American forces in Jordan and near the Strait of Hormuz.

   What is confirmed

   • Houthi rebels have taken control of the Red Sea port city of Mokha.
   • Yemeni generals requested air cover mid-morning on Thursday, but Saudi backup did not arrive.
   • Diesel prices in the U.S. reached $6 a gallon.
   • The Houthi movement has held much of northern Yemen since 2014.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Iran deployed new electro-optical missiles against US warships on Wednesday.
   • Houthi forces are advancing toward the Hanish Islands.

   What to watch next

   • Confirmation of Houthi control over the Bab el Mandeb strait
   • Response from the U.S. military to the deployment of electro-optical missiles
   • Saudi Arabian military movements to reclaim the western coast
   Sources used for this update (7)

   1. www.timesnownews.com — Iran US War LIVE Updates: Houthis Push Towards Bab al-Mandeb, Shoot Down Saudi Drone In Yemen’s Hajjah
   2. www.yahoo.com — Diesel hits record $6 a gallon as Houthis take key Red Sea port city
   3. www.foreignaffairs.com — Iran’s Second Front
   4. www.yahoo.com — ‘A f***-up of epic proportions’: Blame game begins after Iran-backed Houthis’ lightning advance down Red Sea coast
   5. www.nbcnews.com — Iran-backed Houthis sweep toward sudden control over key strait, imperiling global trade
   6. www.egyptindependent.com — ‘A f***-up of epic proportions’: Blame game begins after Iran-backed Huthis’ lightning advance down Red Sea coast
   7. en.abna24.com — Analysis / Mokha Capture: A Red Sea Balance Shifter
   confidence 90%
2. 1d ago

   Oil Prices Surge as Houthi Forces Seize Mocha and Threaten Red Sea

   Global oil prices have surged as Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized control of the Red Sea port of Mocha, heightening fears of a disrupted Western supply route. The advance follows Iranian guidance behind Houthi offensive operations, prompting international alarm over the security of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Yemen now faces a potential return to full civil war as the rebels target vital shipping lanes and try to prevent neighboring Saudi Arabia from using the crucial route, escalating tensions across the region.

   Why it matters

   The conflict in Yemen has intensified as Houthi forces push toward strategic maritime choke points, drawing direct concern from international diplomats. Saudi-aligned forces face mounting pressure as the Iran-backed rebels step up attacks both domestically and abroad. Control of Red Sea ports directly impacts global energy transit, linking the local civil conflict to international trade security.

   What is confirmed

   • Oil prices surged as Iran-backed Houthis seized control of the Red Sea port of Mocha.
   • Iranian guidance behind Houthi offensive operations helped the Mocha advance, raising concerns over Bab el-Mandeb and Red Sea security.
   • Yemen faces a potential return to civil war as the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels try to prevent neighboring Saudi Arabia from using a crucial shipping route.

   What to watch next

   • Further Houthi movements toward the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and international shipping lanes
   • Saudi military responses to Houthi attacks on shipping routes and domestic targets
   Sources used for this update (5)

   1. kulu-media.com — Iranian Guidance Behind Houthi Offensive That Seized Mocha, Sources Tell Reuters
   2. www.dailymail.com — Oil prices surge as Houthis seize Red Sea port amid growing fears Iran-backed rebels will paralyse supply route vital for the West
   3. www.mercurynews.com — Yemen risks a return to civil war as Iran-backed rebels target a vital oil shipping route
   4. kulu-media.com — Ethiopian Army Chief Field Marshall Birhanu Jula Vows Stronger Defense Capacity in 2019 E.C.
   5. www.csmonitor.com — Why Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen are heading toward war
   confidence 100%
3. 2d ago

   Yemen War Escalates as Ground Fighting Surges Toward Red Sea

   Yemen's civil conflict has flared into intense ground fighting involving Saudi-aligned forces and Iran-aligned Houthis, resulting in more than 300 combatant deaths over a four-day span. The Yemeni government announced a formal decision to retake the Houthi-held capital of Sanaa, initiating military offensives and strikes in the Marib Governorate. Meanwhile, Houthi movements pushing toward the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait have drawn warnings from diplomats regarding threats to international shipping routes and southern Saudi Arabia.

   Why it matters

   The resurgence of large-scale military engagements shatters previous lulls and reopens critical battlefronts across Marib and surrounding territories. Government forces recently seized a Houthi commander as new battlefronts leave insurgent elements in disarray. The renewed hostilities draw regional actors back into direct confrontation and threaten vital maritime choke points.

   What is confirmed

   • More than 300 fighters have been killed in Yemen clashes over the last 4 days.
   • The Yemeni government stated a decision has been made to retake Houthi-held Sanaa.
   • Yemeni forces conducted military strikes and launched an offensive against the Houthis in the Marib Governorate.
   • Houthi attacks and movements have targeted the Red Sea and areas toward the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Houthi strikes on southern Saudi Arabia signal a reckless gambit by the group amid battlefield disarray.

   What to watch next

   • Developments regarding the Yemeni government offensive aimed at retaking Sanaa
   • Security status and shipping traffic around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and Red Sea
   • Further military actions and clashes within the Marib Governorate
   Sources used for this update (15)

   1. The New York Times — Yemen’s Houthis Push Toward Red Sea Strait as Ground Fighting Escalates
   2. The Times of Israel — More than 300 fighters killed in Yemen clashes over last 4 days, amid Houthi offensive
   3. i24NEWS — Yemen War Escalates As Saudi-aligned Forces And Houthis Clash In Deadly Offensive
   4. Iran International — Yemen says decision made to retake Sanaa from Iran-aligned Houthis - Al Jazeera
   5. Asharq Al-Awsat English — New Battlefronts in Yemen Leave Houthis in Disarray
   6. The Arab Weekly — Yemen government says decision made to retake Houthi-held Sana’a
   7. Al Jazeera — Yemen’s war is back: A new battle for Sanaa and the Red Sea
   8. Al Jazeera — Yemen war escalates: Who are the key actors involved?
   9. The Jerusalem Post — Yemeni forces conduct strikes against Houthis in Marib Governate - report
   10. China Daily Global Edition — UN condemns Houthi attacks in southern Saudi Arabia: spokesperson
   11. Hindustan Times — What to know about the return to fighting in Yemen
   12. arabnews.com — Yemen army launches military offensive against Houthi militia in Maareb
   confidence 90%