Yemen Envoy Warns Houthi Advance Threatens Bab al-Mandeb Shipping Route

Yemen's ambassador to Qatar says Iran-backed Houthi forces are advancing through Taiz province toward strategic positions overlooking the Red Sea, aiming to seize ground that would let them tighten control over Bab al-Mandeb and further disrupt global shipping. He warns the Houthis are also striking Saudi cities with missiles and drones to drag Riyadh directly into the conflict, and describes the group as an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps proxy comparable to Hezbollah. This threatens a second global chokepoint alongside the Strait of Hormuz, marking a documented escalation of Iran's regional proxy network that widens pressure on Israel's allies and international trade routes.