Saudi Arabia’s Yemen Offensive Explained: Bab el-Mandeb Stakes
Saudi Arabia is reportedly planning an offensive against Yemen’s Houthis. Here is why it matters.
Bab el-Mandeb is the narrow strait where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aden. About a tenth of global seaborne trade, including oil tankers, passes through it.
Last month the Houthis advanced down Yemen’s coast and seized the port of Mokha and Perim Island, taking control of the strait. That gives them leverage over shipping.
Saudi Arabia entered Yemen’s civil war in 2015. A 2022 truce largely held until this year, when the Houthis attacked Saudi shipping and oil infrastructure amid the wider Iran conflict.
Reuters reports Riyadh is weighing two options: a limited strike around Bab el-Mandeb, or a broader offensive across several Yemeni governorates. Yemeni ground forces would lead, backed by Saudi air power.
The US is providing intelligence but not combat support. Houthi retaliation against Saudi oil facilities is the biggest risk, and any escalation could push up global oil and shipping costs.
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