Yemen: Fighting in Yemen has intensified after Houthi forces captured the strategic Red Sea port of Mocha and Mayun Island in the Bab el Mandeb Strait, raising new concerns about global shipping and energy supplies as the wider Middle East conflict continues.
The Houthis captured Mocha on September 10 and later took control of Mayun Island, also known as Perim Island, on September 11. The island lies in the Bab el Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime route linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
The territorial gains represent a major advance for the Houthis, who have long controlled large parts of northern Yemen. The new positions give the group greater influence over territory close to one of the world's most important shipping routes.
Yemeni government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, have been fighting to stop the advance. Yemeni authorities have pledged to send reinforcements to the Red Sea coast and have vowed to try to regain the lost territory.
The fighting has also caused a sharp increase in displacement. More than 82,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since the beginning of September, according to the latest available humanitarian reporting. The figure is continuing to change as fighting spreads and more families leave their homes.
The United Nations has warned that the escalation is creating serious risks for civilians and could further damage efforts to find a political solution to Yemen's conflict, which has lasted for years.
The Houthi advance has also increased pressure on Saudi Arabia, which is facing threats against its territory and critical infrastructure.
Several drones struck Saudi Arabia's East West oil pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions on September 10. Saudi Arabia shut down the pipeline as a precaution after the attacks, which caused injuries and material damage.
Saudi authorities said the drones were launched from Iraqi territory. Iraqi authorities have confirmed that the attack originated from inside Iraq and have seized a launch platform believed to have been used in the attack. Investigations are continuing to identify those responsible.
Saudi Arabia has so far chosen not to respond militarily to Iraq over the attack. Riyadh said it was giving the Iraqi government an opportunity to prevent further attacks launched from Iraqi territory.
The pipeline is particularly important because it provides Saudi Arabia with an alternative route for exporting oil without using the Strait of Hormuz. Its shutdown therefore comes at a difficult time for global energy markets.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted during the wider conflict. The waterway normally carries a large share of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
The Houthi advance towards the Bab el Mandeb has created concern that another important maritime route could face increased security risks. The Houthis have threatened Saudi linked shipping and have said they are imposing restrictions on Saudi maritime traffic.
Vessels are still using the Red Sea corridor, although the security risks and costs have increased. Any further disruption could have consequences for international trade because the route is an important link between Asian, Middle Eastern and European markets.
Oil prices have also responded to the growing uncertainty. Brent crude rose above $107 a barrel on Monday, while US crude moved above $102 a barrel as markets reacted to the growing risks to regional oil supplies.
The developments have also complicated diplomatic efforts involving Iran and Gulf states.
A planned meeting between Iran and Gulf countries in Oman aimed at discussing maritime security and the situation around the Strait of Hormuz has been postponed. The postponement reflects disagreements among the countries involved at a time when regional tensions are already high.
Iran remains a central factor in the wider crisis because of its support for the Houthis and the confrontation around the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have continued diplomatic contacts with Gulf states despite the military escalation.
The Houthis maintain close ties with Iran, but they also have their own political and military objectives. Their recent territorial gains should therefore not automatically be treated as evidence that Iran directly controls their military decisions.
The situation has created a difficult choice for Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. They must protect their territory and energy infrastructure while also considering the wider consequences of further military escalation.
For the international community, the concern is no longer limited to the conflict inside Yemen. The fighting is increasingly connected to two major maritime routes, the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el Mandeb, both of which are important to global energy trade.
Continued instability around both routes could increase shipping costs and put further pressure on global fuel prices.
For Yemen, however, the immediate consequences remain local and deeply human. Thousands of families have been forced from their homes, while renewed fighting threatens to deepen a conflict that has already caused widespread displacement and suffering.