Yemen on Brink of Civil War as Houthi Rebels Threaten Red Sea Shipping Route
Yemen is on the brink of returning to civil war as Houthi rebels threaten another crucial shipping route in the Red Sea. The Houthis have taken control of the port city of Mokha, which has been held by Yemen's internationally recognized government, putting them just 50 miles from the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
The ceasefire that began in 2022 between the Houthi rebels and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government is buckling. The Houthis have declared a blockade against Saudi Arabia, targeting its efforts to ship oil via the Red Sea. This move has raised concerns about the global oil supply, as $1 trillion worth of goods pass through the Bab el-Mandeb strait each year.
The situation has been escalating since weeks ago, when the Houthis tested a Saudi-led blockade of rebel-held areas. The Saudis responded with airstrikes on the international airport in Sanaa, which the Houthi rebels called an attempt to prevent a plane carrying Houthi leaders from returning home after attending the funeral of Iran's late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.