Saudi airstrikes struck the Mokha airport in Yemen on Friday, according to a report from a Houthi broadcaster. This development occurred just a day after the Iran-backed Houthi movement entered the strategically significant Red Sea port city, raising concerns about the potential disruption to commercial shipping and the ongoing fragile truce in Yemen.

The Houthis’ advancement towards Mokha has brought them perilously close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial maritime passage for global trade. The capture of Mokha represents a notable territorial gain for the Houthis, marking their most significant progress in recent years against Saudi-backed factions in Yemen.

With this strategic position, the Houthis are now approximately 80 kilometres away from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, intensifying worries over the security of shipping in the region. Iran has reacted to the situation by calling for an end to the Saudi blockade of Yemen and expressing support for a return to negotiations between the involved parties. This statement follows the Houthis’ military activity aimed at disrupting maritime operations in the Red Sea.

Impact on Shipping and Global Oil Prices

The Telangana-based conflict has broader implications for global shipping and energy markets. The Houthis have increased their assaults on Saudi shipping vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb and the adjacent Red Sea, escalating tensions since they declared a blockade in July. Experts indicate that the capture of Mokha, which commands key tanker routes, could bolster Iran’s strategy to elevate global oil and gas prices and exert pressure on the United States.

Shipping volumes through the Bab el-Mandeb have plummeted by approximately 60 per cent since the Houthis began their military operations in late 2023. This reduction is in response to the Houthis’ actions purportedly made in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Despite a rise in shipping traffic earlier this year as Saudi Arabia sought alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz due to Iranian threats, the renewed Houthi attacks have curtailed these efforts, as noted by Lloyd’s List Intelligence.

Saudi Arabia has sustained a substantial reliance on the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb for crude oil exports. Approximately 12 per cent of the world’s trade is typically routed through this critical strait. Disruptions here could significantly affect international shipping and the flow of oil, which has been a sensitive issue for the global economy.

Responses and Developments in the Region

The developments have led to increasing diplomatic dialogues concerning regional stability. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi released statements indicating that discussions took place between Iranian and Saudi foreign ministries regarding the necessity for stable conditions in the area.

Moreover, the National Defence Council of Yemen, representing the Saudi-backed government, has condemned the Houthi attacks and called for global support to safeguard freedom of navigation along the Red Sea. As the Houthis advance towards the Bab el-Mandeb, the circumstances endanger the tenuous truce that has been largely maintained since 2022, raising fears of an escalation back into full-scale civil conflict.

The ongoing civil war, which ignited after the Houthis took control of significant portions of northern and central Yemen in 2014, has resulted in approximately 150,000 deaths and pushed the population towards famine in the Arabic world’s poorest nation. A renewed confrontation could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis further, stressing the urgent need for international intervention and assistance.

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