Houthis seize Bab el-Mandeb coast, expanding threat to Red Sea shipping

Originating as a Zaydi revivalist group in the late 1990s, the Houthis have transformed into a sizable fighting force with Iranian and Hezbollah backing. Recent operations saw them move into the southern Tihama, seizing Mocha and extending their presence along the entire Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This positioning facilitates the blockage of a major oil export route to Asia and creates a foothold for potential ground moves toward Aden.

Their arsenal now includes long-range ballistic missiles that have reached Israel and Saudi Arabia, as well as increasingly sophisticated drones used on the battlefield. United Nations reports indicate that while the Houthis have developed some domestic production, they remain reliant on Iranian technology and smuggled components. Saudi airstrikes continue in support of government-aligned forces as the conflict persists across multiple Yemeni governorates.