HOUTHIS SEIZE RED SEA COAST: Iran-Backed Rebels Tighten Grip on Strategic Shipping Lane...

Yemen's Houthis, an Iran-backed militant group that has controlled much of the country's north since 2015, have expanded their grip on one of the world's most critical shipping corridors. The Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, through which roughly 15% of global maritime trade passes, has become a flashpoint in Yemen's ongoing civil war. Houthi control of this waterway—now reportedly extending to Perim Island at its narrowest point—gives the group significant leverage over international commerce and oil shipments destined for Asia. The recent territorial gains follow years of Saudi-led military intervention on behalf of Yemen's internationally recognized government. The escalating conflict has prompted direct pressure from Saudi Arabia on the United States for military action, though the Trump administration has so far limited its response to intelligence support. The humanitarian toll continues mounting, with tens of thousands displaced in recent weeks alone, compounding an already severe crisis from years of civil war.