Staff Correspondent, Dhaka:
The rapid Houthi expansion along Yemen’s Red Sea coast is creating a new security challenge for Saudi Arabia while the United States seeks to avoid direct military involvement in another front.
The Houthis have captured the strategic port city of Mocha and advanced toward the Bab al-Mandab Strait, including reaching Perim Island, a position overlooking one of the world’s key maritime routes. The gains have raised concerns over shipping and Saudi oil exports, although commercial navigation had remained largely operational as of the latest UN assessments.
Washington has condemned the Houthi advance but has so far stopped short of providing direct military backing to Riyadh. US officials have also confirmed direct contacts with Houthi representatives in Oman, with the group reportedly assuring Washington that US and international shipping would not be targeted. The reported contacts point to an effort to contain the maritime risks without expanding the US military role while its conflict with Iran continues.
For Saudi Arabia, the shift puts greater emphasis on regional diplomacy and its own defensive capabilities. Riyadh has sought assistance from countries including Pakistan, Egypt, France, and Britain, while Saudi authorities have reported intercepting Houthi attacks.
The renewed fighting has also produced a growing humanitarian cost, with more than 112,000 people internally displaced and thousands fleeing toward Djibouti, according to the UN migration agency.
