Video Appears to Show Saudi-Backed Forces Running Over Houthi Rebels
Graphic footage emerged amid ongoing battles for control of crucial Red Sea shipping routes.
Video footage has surfaced online that appears to show Saudi-backed Yemeni forces running over surrendering Houthi rebels with armored vehicles. The graphic clips emerged as government forces, supported by Saudi air power, continue to battle Iran-backed Houthi rebels for control of vital Red Sea shipping lanes.
The footage, shared on social media, depicts individuals throwing their hands in the air in surrender before being struck by an armored truck. Additional footage appears to show the vehicle driving over individuals who are either dead or wounded. Jubilant cheers and shouts of 'Allahu Akbar' can be heard from inside the vehicles in the video.
Escalating Conflict and Red Sea Control
The escalating conflict comes as the Houthis have seized strategic islands off the coast of Yemen, positioning them to threaten the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a critical maritime chokepoint for global shipping. Disruptions to this route could have significant consequences for oil supplies, global trade, and inflation.
Last month, the Houthis advanced rapidly, extending the conflict and further threatening global energy supplies. Oil prices have seen increases, partly due to attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure. The Houthis have targeted Saudi oil facilities and tankers in the Red Sea since a ceasefire in Yemen's civil war unraveled in July.
Yemen's military, backed by Saudi jets, launched an offensive to retake territory from the Houthis. The military announced over 1,000 strikes against Houthi positions, with 100 warplanes participating in the initial phase of what was termed 'Operation Dawn of Yemen.' However, the strikes have not yet halted Houthi advances on the ground.
Houthi Advances and Impact on Oil Supplies
The Houthis have effectively encircled the key city of Taiz after cutting off the main supply route connecting it to Aden. Taiz has long been a significant front in the Yemeni war, with Houthi fighters controlling areas to the north, east, and west of the city.
The group has also launched ballistic missile and drone attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure, including sites operated by Saudi Aramco. These attacks have caused fires and halted flows in Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline, a crucial conduit for the kingdom's oil exports. The pipeline was previously shut down in September following attacks on oil facilities originating from Iraq.
Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, has increasingly relied on the East-West pipeline to transport oil to the Red Sea since Iran began blockading the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, however, has vowed to keep the waterway shut unless its demands are met.
The conflict in Yemen, one of the world's poorest countries, has intensified amid the broader Middle East war, which has contributed to soaring crude prices. Saudi Aramco's CEO has warned that global oil stockpiles are 'scarily thin' due to the ongoing conflicts.