Strikes on shipping lanes, Saudi escalation mark new phase in Yemen's conflict - analysis
Iran-backed Houthis are escalating attacks on Saudi Arabia, while Saudi-led coalition strikes target missile sites, weapons depots and threats to Red Sea shipping
Assessment
The Houthi campaign against Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping has crossed a threshold, turning a proxy conflict into a direct threat to regional energy and trade routes. The Saudi-led coalition's retaliatory strikes on missile sites and depots signal a shift from containment to active disruption of Houthi offensive capabilities. The key question is whether this escalation draws in other regional powers or pushes the parties toward a negotiated pause.