Saudi Arabia faces high-stakes choices as war with Houthis escalates

Yemen’s Houthi rebel fighters have broken free from the front lines that have remained broadly frozen in the country since 2022, surging forward to take key positions close to the vital Bab al-Mandeb Strait and opening a new front line in the war that has roiled the region since the US and Israel’s attack on the Houthis’ allies in Iran in February.In the last few days, Iran-backed Houthi fighters have seized control of the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands and the Red Sea port city of Mocha, tightening the group’s grip on one of the world’s key energy routes in the face of resistance from Yemen’s government-aligned forces.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4JD Vance insists US is ‘on top of’ Houthi advance in Red Sealist 2 of 4Inside the Houthis’ expanding war economy in Yemenlist 3 of 4What could stop the Houthis’ advance across Yemen?list 4 of 4Saudi Arabia promises to respond to Houthi attacks ‘firmly’end of listThe Bab al-Mandeb strait’s importance has only grown since Iran, responding to the US and Israeli attacks, proved itself able to significantly restrict shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with some analysts warning this latest advance stands to add further u...