Yemen

The regional war has triggered a massive, urgent rerouting of Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea. Saudi Aramco is actively exploring and offering record volumes from Red Sea ports, but faces reluctant shippers and plunging tanker rates, indicating severe market disruption. This shift is a direct response to the Iran war choking Gulf exports via the Strait of Hormuz.

• 1US oil settles above $100 for first time since 2022 after Trump says he wants to ‘take the oil’ in Iran and Houthis join war
• 1International fears grow over Red Sea shipping route tensions
• 1Houthi involvement in war impacts energy prices after one month
• 1Red Sea ports: Increased cargo traffic via Safaga, Nuweiba ports

The dominant political tension is the Houthis' decision to join the Iran-led conflict against the US and Israel, despite Saudi efforts to keep them out and UN calls for restraint. The Houthis assert their decision is purely Yemeni, while Israel warns they will 'pay the price' and Europe accuses Iran of pushing the group to target Red Sea shipping.

• 1Israel faces dilemma in dealing with Houthis after their war involvement
• 1UN urges Yemen's Houthis to refrain from further involvement in Middle East conflict - news.cgtn.com
• 1Houthis say decision to join war is purely Yemeni
• 1'Don’t be a tool': Yemen warns Arab states over 'Zionist conspiracy', backs Iran
• 1Iran's Quds Force chief Qaani lauds anti-US, Israel front, in first message since war started

Security is defined by the Houthis' active entry into the wider Middle East war with missile attacks on Israel, opening a new front. This follows their declared readiness to join Iran and raises immediate fears over the security of the Bab al-Mandab strait, a key trade route, with Saudi infrastructure also facing missile and drone attacks.

• 25Houthis launch missile attacks on Israel, opening new front in conflict
• 6Explosion reported at Quds Day demonstration in Tehran
• 5Israeli military kills senior Iranian commanders in Beirut hotel strike
• 3Bab al-Mandab strait: Iran’s Houthi allies enter the conflict, raising fears over key trade route
• 3Middle East war day 30 as it happened: Benjamin Netanyahu to expand Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, Yemen’s Houthis claimed they launched a second attack on Israel.

Society is under strain from severe natural disasters and wartime misinformation. Flash floods have caused casualties, prompting a regional state of emergency, while old airstrike footage is being falsely recirculated online in the context of the current conflict.

• 115 dead, 9 missing after flash floods in Yemen - news.cgtn.com
• 1Kilauea volcano erupts, spewing 300-meter lava fountains