Houthis Seize Red Sea Islands, Sparking Oil Supply Fears and Saudi-US Talks

Yemen's Houthi rebels have captured the strategic islands of Greater and Lesser Hanish in the Red Sea, bolstering their control over the crucial Bab al-Mandab strait. This advance, following the seizure of the port of Mokha and Perim island, intensifies concerns about global oil supply disruptions, with analysts warning of an impending crunch.

The escalating conflict has prompted Saudi Arabia to seek increased military assistance from the United States. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with the U.S. commander of CENTCOM as Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure, including oil pipelines and airbases, threaten to destabilize regional energy markets. These developments have also led to the postponement of critical talks between Gulf states and Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz.