Key facts
- Over 100,000 people have been displaced by fighting in Yemen, according to the UN.
- Thousands of Yemenis have fled to Djibouti.
- Houthi forces have tightened their grip on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
- The Houthis threatened further attacks on Saudi cities.
- Oil prices rose sharply after loadings at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Yanbu were suspended.
- Iran's foreign minister discussed China's potential role in resolving regional disputes.
Fighting in Yemen has led to over 100,000 people being internally displaced, with thousands seeking refuge in Djibouti, according to the UN. Houthi forces have tightened their control over the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a crucial waterway for global trade and Saudi oil exports, and have threatened further attacks on Saudi cities.
Qatar has warned that Houthi control of the strait could be catastrophic for the world. The strait of Hormuz also remains largely closed for commercial traffic due to ongoing tensions. Iran's foreign minister has traveled to Beijing to discuss China's potential role in resolving regional disputes.
Oil prices rose sharply as loadings at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Yanbu were suspended following an attack on Saudi Aramco's East-West pipeline. The Houthis claimed responsibility for a large-scale attack using missiles and drones against a Saudi airbase, leading to air raid sirens in multiple governorates.
Despite Saudi pleas, Donald Trump has rejected calls to join military action against the Houthis. Houthi leaders have reportedly assured the White House that their actions are aimed at hindering Saudi-owned shipping. Western governments are providing intelligence and strategic advice to anti-Houthi forces in Yemen, while the UAE has withdrawn its forces from the country.