The strategic capture of the Bab al-Mandeb strait coincides with drone attacks on Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline, leaving the kingdom with no short-haul export routes.
The capture of the strategic port city of Mocha and several Red Sea islands gives Iran-backed forces unprecedented control over a critical global maritime artery.
Strategic Houthi advances toward the port of al-Mukha threaten 10% of global maritime trade, coinciding with record US diesel prices and escalating nuclear tensions.