Yemen Fighting Threatens Red Sea Shipping as UN Seeks De-escalation

2026, September 29

Yemen / Saudi Arabia / Djibouti

UN envoy Hans Grundberg met Houthi negotiators in Muscat and officials in Saudi Arabia as he tried to prevent further escalation in Yemen. The Associated Press reported that the Houthis have made major advances along the Red Sea coast, including capturing the strategic port city of Mokha and nearby islands, while cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia have also increased.

The renewed fighting has killed at least 838 people, injured more than 3,600 and displaced over 145,000 inside Yemen, according to figures cited by the AP. The conflict also threatens commercial traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s key maritime routes.