Houthis Claim New Attacks on Saudi Arabia While Yemeni Forces Prepare To Fight Back, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• Houthi rebels claimed new missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting a military base in Sharurah province and causing injuries in al-Tawwal governorate.
• The attacks led to the shutdown of Saudi Arabia's east-west oil pipeline, which transports approximately 4% of global oil supply.
• The internationally recognised Yemeni government described the Houthi advance along the Red Sea coast as "painful" and announced plans to fight back.
• The Houthis now control the Red Sea coast and the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait, raising concerns about commercial shipping and oil prices.
• The conflict has displaced over 85,000 people in Yemen, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

Detailed Insights:

• The Houthi movement, officially Ansar Allah, is a Zaydi revivalist and Shia Islamist political and military organization that emerged in Yemen in the 1990s.
• The conflict in Yemen is widely seen as a proxy war between Iran, which supports the Houthis, and Saudi Arabia, which backs the internationally recognised Yemeni government.
• The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 at the request of the ousted Yemeni President, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, following the Houthi takeover of Sana'a.
• The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a vital maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, crucial for global oil and container trade.
• Disruptions in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait can significantly impact global energy markets, increasing transit times and shipping costs.
• The internationally recognised Yemeni government is currently led by the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), formed in April 2022, with Rashad al-Alimi as its chairman.
• The ongoing conflict has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis in Yemen, with millions displaced and in need of assistance.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Houthi Militia (Ansar Allah): A Zaydi Shia militant group in Yemen, backed by Iran, controlling significant territory including the capital, Sana'a.
• Internationally Recognised Yemeni Government: The government officially recognized by the UN and supported by the Saudi-led coalition, currently the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC).
• Bab el-Mandeb Strait: A narrow, strategically important waterway between Yemen and Djibouti, vital for global shipping and oil trade.
• Proxy War: A conflict instigated by major powers that support opposing sides without direct involvement.