Houthi advance displaces 50,000 in western Yemen; Bab al-Mandab control at stake

Houthi forces have launched a sudden advance along Yemen's Red Sea coast, displacing nearly 50,000 civilians and threatening control of the Bab al-Mandab strait. The offensive escalates Yemen's conflict amid broader US-Iran tensions, with aid workers reporting trapped families and depleted supplies. The development signals a potential shift in frontline dynamics and heightened risk to a critical global shipping chokepoint.