SANAA, Yemen / RIYADH — The war in the Middle East has plunged into a perilous new reality as hundreds of Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officers operate directly on the ground in Yemen, actively guiding Houthi militants in a coordinated, aggressive offensive to choke off global maritime trade and cripple Saudi Arabian energy supply.
The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen warned the Security Council that the conflict has entered a "new and more dangerous phase" following the fall of the strategic Red Sea port city of Mokha to Iranian-backed Houthi forces. Intelligence reports confirm that IRGC commanders are orchestrating the push down the western coast, driving militants toward the critical Bab el-Mandeb Strait—a vital choke point for global oil transport and international trade. In a rapid, multi-pronged escalation, Houthi fighters seized the strategic island of Perim and reached the coastal town of Dhubab, consolidating control directly at the entrance of the Red Sea.
The economic fallout from the Iranian-directed offensive has hit global energy markets with immediate force. Saudi Arabian crude exports have plummeted by millions of barrels per day, reaching a 30-year low as relentless terrorist attacks targeting shipping lanes and infrastructure continue to strangle regional supply. In response to the loss of Mokha, the Saudi Air Force launched direct airstrikes targeting Houthi positions and airport infrastructure near the port city to halt their advance toward the strait.
More than 100 U.S. military personnel are currently on the ground in Saudi Arabia providing critical intelligence and joint logistical support to defend the Kingdom's sovereignty and counter Tehran's aggression. As Iran uses its proxy forces to hold the world's energy supply hostage and project lawlessness across the region, conservative foreign policy leaders emphasize that only decisive, uncompromising American strength can dismantle Tehran's terror network, secure key international waterways, and protect global stability.
