Iran Calls for End to Saudi Blockade of Yemen Amid Rebel Advances

The Iranian government has called for an end to Saudi Arabia's blockade of Yemen and the resumption of talks, following the entry of Iran-backed Houthi rebels into a key port in the country. The Houthis' gains bring them within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, an important alternative shipping route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.

The blockade has led to a significant decrease in shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb, with activity falling by about 60% since the Houthis began attacking some ships there in late 2023. The situation threatens to disrupt global trade and impact oil prices, as the strait handles around 12% of the world's goods.

The conflict has its roots in a civil war that broke out in Yemen in 2014, when the Houthi rebels swept from their mountainous heartland and seized much of northern and central Yemen. Saudi Arabia entered the war the following year on behalf of the government, leading to a fragile truce in 2022.

The escalating fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces threatens to return Yemen to civil war, which could have disastrous consequences for the country's 40 million people who are already struggling with famine and poverty.