Overview
- Huthi fighters captured the port of Mokka and the strategic island of Perim, securing all key islands in the Bab al‑Mandab and large sections of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, a breakthrough reported on Friday.
- Saudi Arabia responded with airstrikes and announced a precautionary shutdown of the East–West oil pipeline after attacks on the line, disrupting a route used to move crude to the Red Sea.
- Global markets reacted quickly, with Brent crude jumping into the roughly $105–110 per barrel range as traders weighed tighter Saudi exports and route risk.
- The United States declined Saudi requests to carry out strikes but is providing intelligence support, leaving direct military intervention constrained and regional states to manage the response.
- The offensive has forced about 46,000 people to flee in the past week and raises the prospect of sustained shipping re‑routing around Africa, higher freight costs, and knock‑on shortages for fuel, fertiliser and industrial inputs.