Yemeni government forces clash with Houthis near the Saudi border

Fighters linked to Yemen’s Saudi-backed government clash with Houthi forces in Al-Jawf province, near the Saudi border, following territorial advances by the group. Last week, the Iran-backed Houthis seized control of Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital artery for the export of Saudi oil. The seizure has introduced another chokepoint for the global movement of oil, with the Middle East war already impacting the Strait of Hormuz. Fighting flared in July when the Houthis, who have for years controlled swathes of northern Yemen, launched a large-scale offensive against government forces.