Houthi Takeover of Yemen Port City Sparks New Front in US-Iran War

A proxy fight in Yemen has escalated tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthi rebels, raising concerns of a new front in the US-Iran war. The Houthis have taken control of Mokha, a port city vital to shipping through the Red Sea, giving Iran another foothold in the region.

The takeover comes after the group renewed their attacks on Mokha in August and has been met with Saudi airstrikes against Houthi positions near the city. The conflict has led to increased attacks on Yemen's government and a blockade on Saudi Arabia by the Houthis, which have put pressure on global energy markets.

Brett Erickson of Obsidian Risk Advisors warned that if the Houthis were to shut down the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, it would be 'checkmate' for the US and global energy markets, highlighting the importance of the strait as a shipping lane. Saudi Arabia's oil exports are threatened through almost all routes they depend on, including the East-West Pipeline, which was attacked by drones launched from Iraq.

Analysts note that while air power alone may not be enough to counter the Houthis' advances, Saudi-backed forces have committed to launching a counteroffensive to reclaim areas taken by the group. However, their efforts are complicated by fragmentation among different factions and limited ground strategy.