What to know after a week of Houthi attacks that threaten Saudi oil
Houthi rebels in Yemen have expanded their military operations, threatening Saudi oil infrastructure and key maritime trade routes in the Red Sea. The escalation has reignited the civil war and raised concerns about global fuel prices and regional stability.
Why it matters
The Houthi offensive poses a direct threat to global energy security and trade, potentially destabilizing the broader Middle East region.
CAIRO — It's been a week since Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels stormed down the Red Sea coast, extending their reach to a key maritime chokepoint and threatening Saudi Arabia's oil exports.
Middle East conflict Why gains by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen could push gas prices even higher The Houthis' biggest land grab in years reignited Yemen's 12-year civil war and pushed up global fuel prices. It also gave Iran another potential source of leverage as the United States has started to loosen Tehran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz, on the other side of the Arabian Peninsula.
The Houthis are also firing at Saudi oil facilities and tankers. An attack on Saudi Arabia's east-west pipeline, blamed on Iran-backed militias in Iraq, added to an unfolding nightmare for the kingdom and rattled world markets.
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