Yemen, Houthis and Bab Al-Mandeb Energy Security

The conflict in Yemen and the Houthi movement's threat to Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping, covering Houthi attacks and territorial advances, the Saudi military response and blockade, mediation and negotiations, security around the Bab Al-Mandeb strait, and Houthi ties with Iran.

The Saudi-Houthi war has become the Gulf's most active front: after the Houthis seized Yemen's western Red Sea coast and Mayyun Island, Houthi missile and drone barrages penetrated Saudi air defenses and drones struck East-West pipeline pumping stations on 26 October 2026, while Saudi-backed Yemeni forces have launched a counteroffensive coordinated with the UAE.

This topic page tracks MBS's search for military options that shift the balance alongside Omani mediation, the Saudi air-defense failure investigation, the reopened Emirati role in Yemen negotiated between KBS and Sheikh Mansour, Washington's limitation of support to intelligence and targeting data with no major US intervention expected before the midterms, the Oman-brokered US-Houthi channel, Riyadh's reported contacts with Israel, Prince Faisal and Araghchi's exploration of Iranian leverage over the Houthis, French protection of Yanbu, and security around Bab Al-Mandeb.

Built for Red Sea security analysts, shipping risk underwriters and Yemen-focused policy desks.