Houthis threaten to block second major Middle East strait

Houthi rebels have captured the strategic port city of Mokha in Yemen, significantly escalating tensions in the Middle East. Positioned near the Bab Al Mandeb strait—a critical maritime passage connecting Asia to Europe via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal—the Houthi forces are now threatening to disrupt global shipping routes. Reports indicate that rebels have established a presence on Perim island, further increasing the risk to international trade vessels that navigate this narrow waterway daily.

The regional conflict has increasingly taken on the characteristics of a proxy war, with Iran providing training to Houthi rebels while the United States deploys military advisors to support Saudi Arabia. Ongoing hostilities, including mutual airstrikes, have forced Saudi Arabia to close several energy facilities. As the world's largest oil exporter, these shutdowns have led to a substantial decline in production, causing the price of crude oil to surge above 100 euros per barrel for the first time since July.