Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen have advanced to within about 20 miles of Camp Lemonnier, the main U.S. military base in Djibouti, after seizing key positions along the Red Sea coast, including the port of Mocha and islands in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The gains give the group a stronger hold on the narrow waterway that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and carries a large share of Europe-Asia trade. Shipping firms and oil traders have grown more cautious as the militants threaten blockades of Saudi energy sites and regional maritime traffic.
Fighting intensified after coordinated Houthi drone and missile strikes on Saudi infrastructure near the border, which wounded civilians and damaged buildings. The offensive has also driven thousands of Yemenis to flee, some crossing by boat to Djibouti. Saudi-backed government forces have launched counterstrikes, but the rebels’ new coastal and island positions keep pressure on both the strait and nearby U.S. and allied facilities.
