- Houthi forces launched at least 12 fresh missile attacks on the Yemeni provinces of Hadramout and Marib on Friday, following drone and ballistic missiles that killed at least 30 soldiers on Thursday.
- On Thursday, at least 30 government soldiers were killed and 15 others injured when Houthis fired eight missiles from al-Jawf governorate, targeting al-Thiniya and al-Abr in Hadramout and al-Rouk in Marib.
- Saudi Arabia has warned of further attacks following the recent missile strikes.
- GCC secretary-general Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi denounced the strikes on the Najran region as 'terrorist attacks', stating that targeting civilians is a heinous crime.
- Analyst Ahmed Nagi identified two main drivers behind the current tensions: domestic political stalemate and regional dynamics involving US-Iran tensions.
- Approximately 30 percent of global container traffic passes through the Red Sea, with immediate effects of Houthi attacks including higher insurance premiums and increased shipping costs.
Houthi forces in Yemen have intensified their military actions, launching at least 12 missile attacks on Hadramout and Marib, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 soldiers.1
The strikes, which occurred on Friday, follow a series of assaults on Saudi-led coalition and Yemeni government military sites, raising alarms about escalating violence in the region.
A senior Saudi official indicated that intelligence suggests the Houthis, potentially in coordination with Iraqi armed groups and under the supervision of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), may target civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities and ports.
“Targeting civilians is a heinous crime and embodies the criminal approach of these militias,” stated Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, condemning the attacks on Saudi Arabia's Najran province, which injured several individuals, including foreign nationals.3
Ahmed Nagi, a senior analyst for the International Crisis Group, noted that the current tensions stem from a stalled political track after years of a de facto truce, with the Houthis seeking to leverage their position.5
“The immediate effects are higher insurance premiums, increased security costs and more expensive shipping,” Nagi added, highlighting the potential impact on global trade as approximately 30% of container traffic passes through the Red Sea.6
As the situation develops, the international community remains watchful of the implications for regional stability and global shipping routes.
“The Gulf Cooperation Council's secretary-general denounced the strikes on Najran as 'terrorist attacks,' saying 'targeting civilians is a heinous crime.' Analysts cite stalled political talks and US-Iran tensions as drivers, with Red Sea shipping costs rising as 30% of global container traffic passes through.”
