Houthis Escalate Conflict with Saudi Arabia Amid Global Oil Export Concerns

Tensions between Yemen's Houthi militia and Saudi Arabia have escalated in recent weeks, sparking concerns of a wider conflict. In July, the Houthis claimed that Saudi Arabia had struck the airport in Sanaa to prevent Houthi leaders from returning after the funeral of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. However, Saudi Arabia denied the attack and accused the Houthis of spreading false claims.

The Houthis have since retaliated by striking facilities owned by Saudi Arabia's national oil company, Aramco, forcing the Jazan production site to shut down. This move has particularly affected Saudi Arabia as Jazan serves as an export hub to circumvent Iran's ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Houthis have also announced that they will block Saudi-linked commercial vessels from passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. This has prompted several ships to turn back this week. The narrow strait has become more significant for Saudi oil exports due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Riyadh confirmed that it had struck Houthi targets in response to the threats to Red Sea shipping and is establishing a multinational defense maritime coalition to protect key shipping routes, with 14 countries already confirming participation. Experts believe that the Houthis have abandoned their strategy of refraining from joining the wider US-Iran war and are using this confrontation to revive unresolved issues with Saudi Arabia.