Yemen Conflict Escalates as Houthis Target Mecca

The conflict in Yemen has escalated with the Saudi-led coalition accusing the Houthi rebels of targeting Mecca, Islam's holy city. This comes after the Houthis seized control of the Red Sea coast and Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital shipping route for Saudi oil exports. The Saudi coalition warned that the security of holy sites is a 'red line' and vowed to take deterrent measures against the Houthi militia.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned the attack as 'heinous', while Qatar warned of dire consequences if Bab al-Mandab was closed, saying it would be 'catastrophic for the entire world'. The Houthis have also targeted oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, pushing global prices above $100 a barrel.

The conflict has forced 82,000 people to flee their homes since September, according to the United Nations. Yemen's permanent representative at the UN, Abdullah al-Saadi, said Yemenis were fighting to restore 'national institutions across every inch of their land', and called on the international community to take action against the Houthis.