Houthi offensive on Bab el-Mandeb kills 120, breaks 2022 ceasefire

Houthi forces launched a major offensive on Thursday to seize the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, killing over 120 people in the heaviest fighting in Yemen since the April 2022 ceasefire. The militia has escalated attacks on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea since imposing a blockade in summer, and this offensive marks a significant breakdown of the truce. The strategic strait's status is now uncertain, with implications for regional maritime security and global shipping lanes.