In der internationalen Berichterstattung wird das Ergebnis ĂŒberwiegend als militĂ€rischer Erfolg AnsarAllahs dargestellt. Ein genauerer Blick auf die von CNN rekonstruierten AblĂ€ufe zeigt jedoch ein anderes Bild: weniger einen Sieg der einen Seite als einen aussergewöhnlichen Zusammenbruch der anderen â mit direkter saudischer und US-amerikanischer Beteiligung an diesem Zusammenbruch.
Archiv: Rotes Meer / Red Sea / Golf von Aden / Gulf of Aden / Bab-el-Mandeb strait
Will Houthis‘ rapid advance drag US, Saudi Arabia back into Yemen?
A 2022 truce had reduced large-scale combat and allowed Saudi Arabia to distance itself from the conflict, but it left the capital under Houthi control and did nothing to establish centralized control over the country and its heavy weapons.
Now, as the Houthis advance rapidly toward government strongholds in the south, Yemenâs military is scrambling to regroup and make progress on its planned offensive in the north. The question now is whether Saudi Arabia, the U.S., and other powers will now intervene to help blunt the Houthisâ rapid advances.
Yemenâs government vows to fight back after Houthi seizures
Sultan al-Arada, a member of the ruling presidential council, described the collapse of government forces in the port city of Mocha and elsewhere on Yemenâs west coast as âpainful and regrettableâ.
Al-Arada, also governor of central Marib province, said in a TV interview that government fighters âare currently regrouping and will return to the battle in one form or anotherâ.
About 1,400 Yemenis flee to Djibouti within 24 hours
Obock, a city only about 20 kilometres (12 miles) across the water from the Yemeni coast, has for several years been a preferred arrival point for those seeking refuge from war-torn Yemen. The Bab-el-Mandeb strait is also used in the opposite direction by migrants from the Horn of Africa, who transit through Yemen on their way to Gulf countries.
Why control of Yemenâs Mocha is so vital
According to reports, their advance is facing little resistance after government-aligned forces withdrew from their positions.
If that continues, it could pave the way for the Houthis to seize more territory along the coast and move closer to Bab al-Mandeb, while increasingly threatening shipping in the crucial Red Sea trade route.
Houthis seize strategic city of al-Makha in âstunningâ blow in Yemen
Theyâve been battling it out over the past nine days and we knew that the Houthis were trying to push west of Taiz because their main goal, their main prize, was the takeover of the city of al-Makha (Mocha) and also the Red Sea coastline.
It gives the Houthis full advantage to prevent ships from crossing Bab al-Mandeb and also, more importantly, the ability to cut off three main supply lines to the government in the south of the country.
More than 140 killed in latest Yemen clashes: military sources
Beginning on Thursday, the Houthis launched an offensive aiming to cut off the government-held port city of Mokha, under fire for weeks, and advance towards areas bordering the Bab al-Mandab strait at the southern entrance to the Red Sea.
A military official within the government told AFP that the Houthis had succeeded on Saturday evening in „cutting off the road linking Taiz to Mokha.“
Secretive U.S. Base in Somalia Signals New Phase of War
The U.S. has described the dry and rugged mountains of northern Somalia as the main hub from which ISIS controls its global operations. Amid an increasing number of U.S. drone strikes and raids supporting the Somali government in the war against ISIS, the United States is now expanding its presence in the port city of Bosaso and effectively building a new military base, which will be used for combat and surveillance operations targeting âterror groupsâ in the region as well enhancing maritime security, according to Somali security officials in Puntland. The CIA will also expand its operations there, the officials said.
War on Iran: Saudi Arabia warns of imminent attacks by Iraqi groups and Yemen‘s Houthis
A senior Saudi official, speaking anonymously to Reuters late on Thursday, said intelligence gathered by Saudi Arabia, the United States and other countries in the region indicated that civilian and economic sites could be targeted.
The potential targets include energy infrastructure, ports and airports.
Saudi Arabia had detected the movement of drones and missiles, according to the official, suggesting preparations for attacks from Iraq to the north and Yemen to the south.
âAttack on one is attack on allâ: Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan sign landmark Mecca defence pact
âThe agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggressionâ and stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three countries âwould be regarded as an attack on allâ, according to a joint statement cited by Reuters.
The pact brings together NATO member Turkiye, which has the allianceâs second-largest military, nuclear-armed Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, one of the Gulfâs most powerful states and the worldâs leading oil exporters.
Italian Frigate Bergamini Escorts Merchant Vessel in Red Sea Conflict
On August 1, 2026, a merchant vessel successfully navigated the Red Sea under the escort of the Italian frigate Bergamini, according to a statement from the European Unionâs naval mission ASPIDES. The protective operation highlights ongoing maritime security efforts in a region currently experiencing significant geopolitical tensions.
Yemenâs Houthis claim 8 Saudi oil tankers diverted via Cape of Good Hope
Military spokesperson says maritime blockade has forced Saudi tankers to avoid Red Sea route
14 countries back Saudi-led multinational maritime defense alliance proposal
Fourteen countries have backed a Saudi proposal to establish a multinational âMaritime Defense Alliance,â aimed at protecting international shipping routes and global trade, Saudi Arabiaâs Ministry of Defense said in a statement Thursday.
The countries are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia.
The ministry said military chiefs and other representatives from 43 countries attended a meeting on the initiative, either in person or by video link. A European Union delegation also took part.
Report: Saudi Arabia To Announce New Red Sea Coalition To Counter Yemenâs Ansar Allah
While the new blockade has disrupted shipping in the region, Ansar Allah hasnât announced a blanket ban on shipping through the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Some Chinese ships loaded with Saudi crude have also been able to pass through the strait, and Reuters reported that Beijing had cleared each passage with Sanaa.
But as the US-Iran war and conflict across the region are escalating again, the chances of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait being completely closed are rising. The Al-Monitor report, which cited two diplomatic sources and an unnamed US official, said that Riyadh has invited around 50 nations to join the Red Sea coalition, but that US support was seen as vital for the initiative to take off, and it was unclear at this point if Washington would participate.
Bundeswehreinsatz im Roten Meer verlÀngert
Der Bundestag hat am Donnerstag, 16. Oktober 2025, den Bundeswehreinsatz im Roten Meer um ein Jahr verlĂ€ngert. Dazu lag ein Antrag der Bundesregierung fĂŒr die fortgesetzte Beteiligung der Bundeswehr an der EU-gefĂŒhrten Operation Eunavfor Aspides zur Abwehr von Angriffen der Huthi-Milizen auf die Schifffahrt im Roten Meer vor (21/1372(Dokument, öffnet ein neues Fenster)). In namentlicher Abstimmung wurde der Antrag auf Empfehlung des AuswĂ€rtigen Ausschusses mit 435 Ja-Stimmen bei 69 Gegenstimmen und 77 Enthaltungen angenommen.
Vorbereitung fĂŒr den Ausnahmezustand
âDer Zustimmungsfall wird dann relevant, wenn der Bundestag einzelne Regelungen in Kraft setzen will, die im Spannungsfall gelten wĂŒrden, aber den Spannungsfall insgesamt noch nicht ausrufen willâ, sagt Hegemann. FĂŒr diese einzelnen Regeln reicht dann wie bei regulĂ€ren Gesetzen grundsĂ€tzlich eine einfache Mehrheit im Parlament.
Das geplante BND-Gesetz formuliert fĂŒr alle drei FĂ€lle Regeln. Vor allem aber Ă€ndert es den Mechanismus, wie der Zustimmungsfall fĂŒr das BND-Gesetz ausgelöst werden kann. Das soll sich am Zustimmungsfall aus dem Grundgesetz âorientierenâ, aber umgeht dabei das Plenum des Bundestags.
An die Stelle eines regulĂ€ren parlamentarischen Verfahrens soll nĂ€mlich ein Vorschlag der Bundesregierung treten, dem das Parlamentarische Kontrollgremium zustimmen mĂŒsste. Dann könnten einzelne oder alle Regelungen des Gesetzes zum Spannungs- und Verteidigungsfall âfreigeschaltetâ werden. Dass der Bundestag als Ganzes dabei auĂen vor bliebe, hat noch einen weiteren Effekt: âEine Veröffentlichung ist nicht vorgesehen.
Saudi military strikes Houthi targets in Yemen after the Iran-backed militia attacked Red Sea shipping
Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that its coalition forces struck Houthi militia in Yemen after the Iran-backed group claimed to have attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea earlier in the week.
Air defenses in Saudi Arabia reportedly intercepted two ballistic missiles from Yemen.
The latest salvos appeared to indicate an escalation in fighting in a second front in the Iran war.
Westasienkrieg weitet sich auf das Rote Meer aus 23. Juli, 19:00 Uhr (Ticker)
Der Angriffskrieg Israels und der USA gegen den Iran breitete sich in der Nacht endgĂŒltig auf das Rote Meer aus. Noch sind dort nur Schiffe von und zu sowie aus Saudi-Arabien betroffen, als Reaktion des Jemens auf die Blockade und die letzte Bombardierung des Flughafens von Sanaa. Aber Beobachter befĂŒrchten, dass bald auch Schiffe der LĂ€nder betroffen sein werden, welche den Krieg gegen den Iran, Libanon und PalĂ€stina unterstĂŒtzen. Die Chronologie des Tages beginnt mit den Ereignissen der Nacht.
Trump tells Axios he‘s considering a „bigger than ever before“ attack on Iran
„I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it,“ Mr. Trump told Axios, adding that he believed Iran‘s leaders „want to negotiate,“ but aren‘t yet ready to make a deal.
„They haven‘t received enough pain yet,“ he told the outlet.
U.S. forces carried out a 12th consecutive night of strikes across Iran on Wednesday, and Mr. Trump warned in a social media post Thursday that the Islamic Republic and its Houthi allies would both face „major military punishment“ if the Yemeni rebels repeat their attacks from earlier this week on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.
Watch: Houthi spokesperson says group targeted Saudi oil tankers
(10 hours ago)
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said its armed forces targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, claiming the vessels had violated a ban imposed by the group.
Saudi Arabia‘s state media later confirmed that one of its vessels was struck and the bow of the ship caught fire, with a source adding that all crew members onboard Encelia were safe.
‚America killed my son‘: The Ethiopians bombed by US in Yemen prison strike
Born into poverty and with little opportunity at home, Hiwot Mehari took the dangerous smuggling route out of Ethiopia and across the Red Sea to Yemen, from where he hoped to reach Saudi Arabia.
After two years in the deadly border region between Yemen and Saudi Arabia known as Rago, Mehari was caught by border security men and thrown into prison.
On 28 April 2025, he became one of dozens of Ethiopians killed in a US air strike on a migrant detention in Saada, northwest Yemen.
The next day, at noon, Mehariâs parents received the news at home from a neighbour in the Tsirae district of war-ravaged Tigray.
Trump Suggests He Could Restart Yemen Bombing Campaign in Response to Red Sea Blockade
President Trump on Tuesday suggested he could restart a bombing campaign in Yemen in response to the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, enforcing a blockade on the Red Sea.
Trumpâs comments came after Ansar Allah announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, which came a week after the Saudis bombed Yemenâs Sanaa airport to prevent the landing of a plane carrying a Yemeni delegation from Iran to enforce its long-standing blockade on the country that was eased under a 2022 ceasefire deal but never fully lifted.
Yemenâs Houthis announce maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia
Yemenâs Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced a maritime embargo of their foe Saudi Arabia after the two sides traded fire last week for the first time in years.
The rebels âdeclare a maritime embargo against the criminal Saudi enemy, based on the equation of âan eye for an eye,â effective immediately upon the issuance of this statementâ, military spokesman Yahya Saree said
As the Iran war upends energy flows, Russia is emerging as the real winner
(March 10, 2026)
For Russia, which remains one of the worldâs largest oil exporters despite Western sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine, the price rally directly translates into stronger state revenues.
Henning Gloystein, managing director for energy and resources at Eurasia Group, said Russia has âalready hugely benefitedâ from the crisis after Washington granted India a temporary waiver allowing it to continue purchasing Russian crude.
Putin is the real winner in Trumpâs Iran war as it puts Russian oil back on the map
(March 23, 2026)
The war in Iran is spiking global oil prices, and Russian President Vladimir Putin couldnât be happier.
The war has bottled up one-fifth of the worldâs oil, putting a premium on the remaining supply, including Russian barrels.
Iran asks Houthis to block Red Sea if US hits energy sites: Reports
Iranian officials have asked Yemenâs Houthis to block the Red Sea if the U.S. carries out strikes on Tehranâs energy sites, according to Reuters.
Two senior Iranian sources and a regional source familiar with the matter reportedly told the outlet that the Houthis had been informed of the request, which was discussed within the Islamic Republicâs leadership.
Trump Signals Support for Saudi Action Against Houthis
(July 15, 2026)
The U.S. State Department is aware of reports that President Donald Trump has given Saudi Arabia the green light to launch military action against Yemenâs Iran-backed Houthi movement following attacks on the kingdom, a department spokesperson told MBN in a statement.
Houthis fire missiles at Saudi Arabia, breaking years of calm
(July 14, 2026)
The country‘s size relative to other much smaller Gulf states meant it fared better during the war, continuing to export oil via a pipeline from the east to its west coast on the Red Sea, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.
A wider conflict with the Houthis, who have in the past targeted Red Sea shipping, could challenge that.
The Saudi government‘s communication office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Exclusive: Israel sent troops to Azerbaijan during Iran war as part of secret network across region, sources say
The secret deployment to Azerbaijan, reported by CNN for the first time, was one of several military positions Israel maintained across the Middle East that gave its military unprecedented reach, highlighting the role Iranâs neighbors played â some with permission, some likely without â in facilitating operations against Tehran and becoming entangled in the conflict.
The locations in Azerbaijan were among numerous covert military sites and bases in multiple countries, the sources told CNN, including in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Somaliland. The forces, initially planned as potential rescue teams in the event of an emergency, expanded in scope to become military and intelligence gathering positions.
Iran suspends talks with the US over Israelâs strikes on Lebanon, Iranian media reports
Tasnim added that Tehran and allied militant groups in the region have placed on their agenda the âcomplete closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the activation of other fronts,â including the Bab el-Mandeb strait at the southern end of the Red Sea, where Yemenâs Iran-backed Houthi rebels have previously launched attacks on passing vessels.
Saudi Aramco cuts oil supply to Asia for second month in April
Saudi Arabia âhas exported 4.355 million barrels per day of crude so âfar â in March, data from analytics firm Kpler showed, down from 7.108 million bpd in February.
The producer is trying to boost crude exports via âYanbu to âoffset the â Strait of Hormuz disruption, with loadings seen rising to record volumes in âMarch. China‘s top refiner Sinopec (600028.SS), opens new tab is âset â to load about 24 million barrels of Saudi crude from Yanbu in March.
Nach Irakkrieg II jetzt Somaliakrieg II: kleine Chronologie fĂŒr den BimbesbĂŒrger
(Dezember 11, 2008)
Wissen Sie, wenn Sie hier schon immer vorher alles lesen können was unsere Berliner Chunta und ihre Chefs in Washington ausbaldowern, dann jammern Sie jetzt wenigstens nicht rum wenn wir Ihnen das ausfĂŒhrlich erlĂ€utern.
(…)
Kapitel III: Der erste Irakkrieg und der Zerfall Somalias
Bereits wÀhrend des Zusammenbruchs der Sowjetunion wurde der somalische Diktator Siad Barre und Statthalter der USA am Horn von Afrika aus Washington plötzlich fallen gelassen.
Ăber die GrĂŒnde heisst es da im dt-sprachigen Wikipedia-Eintrag
âals Menschenrechtsverletzungen seines Regimes umfangreicher und offensichtlicher wurden und er nach dem Ende des Kalten Krieges seine Bedeutung als BĂŒndnispartner verloren hatteâ
âSeine Bedeutung als BĂŒndnispartner verlorenâ. Am Horn von Afrika. In dem Augenblick, als der Truppenaufmarsch des US-MilitĂ€rs in der Region fĂŒr den ersten Irakkrieg losging?
Denn nachdem der irakische Diktator Saddam Hussein am 2.August 1990 urplötzlich in Kuwait einmarschiert war, begann unmittelbar darauf bereits ein bis dato unvorstellbarer MilitĂ€raufmarsch der USA in der arabischen Welt, angeblich fĂŒr eine âinsgesamt defensiveâ MilitĂ€raktion um den Irak am Eindringen nach Saudi-Arabien zu hindern.
Am frĂŒhen Morgen des 17. Januar 1991 beginnen die Alliierten den ersten Irakkrieg mit einem massiven Luftschlag.
Am 26.Januar 1991 muss der durch die USA fallengelassene Diktator Somalias Siad Barre aus der Hauptstadt Mogadishu fliehen.
Am 12. April 1991 tritt der âWaffenstillstandâ zwischen den US-gefĂŒhrten KoalitionsstreitkrĂ€ften und dem irakischen Diktator Saddam Hussein in Kraft, welcher bekanntermassen jahrzehntelang zuvor als treuer CIA-Agent gedient hatte. Roger Morris umschrieb es spĂ€ter wĂ€hrend des zweiten Irakkrieges am 14.MĂ€rz 2003 in der New York Times folgendermassen:âErinnert Euch: Saddam war unser Mannâ.
Hussein war bereits 1968 unter US-President Lyndon B.Johnson mit Hilfe der CIA im Irak an die Macht geputscht worden.
Am 28. Mai 1991 verkĂŒndete dann das Pentagon, dass 464.000 US-Soldaten (welche die plötzlich abgebrochene Invasion des Irak durchgefĂŒhrt hatten) inzwischen die âRegion am Persischen Golfâ verlassen hĂ€tten. 76.000 Soldaten blieben dort allerdings stationiert.
US-Truppen waren also zu Zehntausenden in einer Region, die noch zwei Jahre zuvor fĂŒr sie absolut tabu gewesen war. Was passierte nun?
PĂŒntklich zum Ende des Irakkrieges Nr.1 zerfiel der Staat Somalia.
Kapital IV: Vom Golf nach Somalia
Am 18.Mai 1991, also zehn Tage vor VerkĂŒndung des offiziellen Waffenstillstands im Irak, verkĂŒndet Somaliland seine UnabhĂ€ngigkeit.
Es grenzt im Norden direkt an die französische KĂŒstenkolonie Djibouti (âDschibutiâ), dem traditionell wichtigsten MilitĂ€rstĂŒtzpunkt fĂŒr âwestlicheâ Flotten und MilitĂ€rs in der Region, in welchem US-Spezialeinheiten und Geheimdienste der NATO-Staaten ein und aus gehen.
WÀhrend in Somaliland seitdem relative Ruhe herrscht, bricht im restlichen Somalia 1991 das Chaos aus. Rivalisierende Warlords stecken ihre Claims ab und kÀmpfen um die Macht.
Gleichzeitig spielt sich im bis zum Ende der Sowjetunion aus Moskau unterstĂŒtzten Ăthiopien eine interessante Paralellentwicklung ab….
Exclusive: Inside the UAE‘s secret Sudan war operation at Somalia‘s Bosaso
âTheyâre frequent and the logistics are transferred immediately to another aircraft that is on standby and is destined for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan through the neighbouring countries,â said Abdullahi, a senior Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) commander at Bosaso Airport, who spoke to Middle East Eye using a different name for security reasons.
According to flight tracking data, satellite imagery, multiple local sources, and US and regional diplomats, the origin of these planes and their cargo is clear: the United Arab Emirates.
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As MEE reported recently, Bosaso is connected to a ring of bases built and expanded by the UAE across the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea. The bases, on the islands of Mayun, Abd al-Kuri, Samhah; at the Somaliland port of Berbera and the Yemeni port of Mocha, are all on territory nominally controlled not by the UAE but its allies or clients.