The Houthis, an Iran-backed militia, are advancing toward the Red Sea strait as fighting in Yemen intensifies. According to local security officials, the group is attempting to take territories that could give them greater control over a major international maritime route.
The ground disputes have put the Houthis face to face with forces allied to the internationally recognized Yemeni government, supported by Saudi Arabia. Analysts warn that the outcome of the conflict has significant implications for global trade and oil markets.
The conflict began in 2014, when the Houthis took the capital Sanaa. Shortly after, a Saudi-led military coalition intervened to restore the government, plunging the impoverished country into a devastating war that lasted more than a decade.
A fragile truce was signed in 2022, but the recent escalation of fighting demonstrates the fragility of the agreement and the resurgence of violence in the country.
