The Houthi militia’s recent territorial advances in Yemen have raised concerns about the security of critical maritime routes and the stability of global oil shipments. Last week, the Iran-backed group launched a series of attacks crossing into Saudi Arabia, captured a key port on the Red Sea, and seized control of an island near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a narrow but vital chokepoint for international shipping.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait, measuring approximately 12.5 miles at its narrowest point, connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is a crucial passageway for cargo vessels and oil tankers traveling from Asia and the Middle East toward the Suez Canal. The proximity of Perim Island, situated less than three miles from these shipping lanes, places vessels within range of Houthi missiles and drone attacks, significantly increasing the risk to commercial transit.

These developments follow a period in which Iran effectively restricted maritime movement through the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Saudi Arabia to rely more heavily on alternative export routes. In particular, Saudi Arabia has utilized pipelines traversing its territory to deliver oil to its Red Sea ports for shipment. On Thursday, the Saudi government reported that one such strategic oil pipeline was targeted in multiple attacks, necessitating its temporary closure as a precaution. While Saudi authorities did not definitively attribute responsibility for the attacks, the incident resulted in some injuries and was followed by satellite imagery showing a large plume of black smoke along the pipeline route.

Despite these disruptions, Saudi Arabia maintains additional options for exporting oil, including routes through Egypt’s pipeline network and the adjoining Suez Canal, providing some resilience amid the growing security challenges.

The recent Houthi gains not only threaten the continuous flow of global energy supplies but also complicate the broader conflict in the region. The renewed escalation comes amid heightened tensions following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets earlier this year, fueling concerns about further instability in the already volatile Red Sea corridor and its surrounding areas.