The latest
The Houthis deepened their involvement in the war by claiming a missile attack on the coastal city of Jizan, one day after the Saudi-led coalition struck the group’s positions in Hodeida. Saudi authorities issued warnings for residents in Jazan and Yanbu before later declaring that the danger in Jazan had passed.
Jizan is home to an Aramco refinery, but there was no official confirmation that the facility was hit or that any damage occurred. The attack followed a Houthi declaration of a blockade on Saudi ports and threats against vessels serving them, as well as attacks on two Saudi-linked oil tankers in the Red Sea.
The escalation coincided with an apparent pause in U.S. strikes on Iran after a daily campaign lasting 13 nights. Neither Washington nor Tehran reported overnight attacks, but there is no indication the pause is more than temporary. Donald Trump continues to say that U.S. forces are ready for major strikes.
Details
- Claimed target: The Houthis said their missiles targeted Jizan, near the Yemeni border on the Red Sea coast.
- Saudi response: The coalition struck Houthi military sites in Hodeida in response to attacks on commercial vessels.
- Port threat: The group declared a blockade targeting Saudi ports and ships in retaliation for the kingdom’s strikes on Sanaa.
- Critical route: Saudi Arabia exports millions of barrels a day through Yanbu to bypass disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Oil shock: Brent crude rose about 27% over two weeks and closed at $96.78 a barrel.
- Unclear mediation: Trump said talks with Iran were continuing but did not clarify whether they were direct or conducted through Pakistan and Qatar.
Between the lines
Even if the pause in U.S. bombing is intended to give diplomacy a chance, stronger Houthi involvement creates a front that Washington and Tehran do not fully control. The group can also maintain pressure on oil markets even if direct U.S.-Iran fighting subsides.
What to watch
The immediate questions are whether the United States resumes strikes on Iran and whether Saudi Arabia expands its campaign in Yemen. Any successful attack on Jizan or Yanbu could increase pressure on oil exports and push the Saudi-Houthi confrontation beyond their fragile truce.
