Saudi-Backed Forces Accused of Running Over Surrendering Houthi Rebels
Graphic video footage emerges amidst escalating conflict for control of vital Red Sea shipping routes.
Video footage posted on social media appears to show Saudi-backed Yemeni forces using armored vehicles to run over surrendering Houthi rebels. The graphic incident reportedly occurred as fierce fighting continues for control of the Red Sea shipping route, a critical global trade artery. The video, captured from inside one of the vehicles, seems to depict rebels throwing their hands up in surrender before being struck by an armored truck. Jubilant shouts from within the vehicle can be heard. In other footage, gunshots are audible as individuals are seen on foot in the distance.
This escalation comes as Yemeni government forces, supported by Saudi air power, continue to engage Iran-backed Houthi rebels for dominance over the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The Houthis recently seized strategic islands along Yemen's Red Sea coast, positioning themselves to threaten this vital maritime chokepoint. Disruption of the strait could have far-reaching consequences, impacting oil supplies, global shipping, and economic stability.
The conflict has already influenced global energy markets. Oil prices have surged, with a drone strike previously shutting down a key Saudi oil pipeline. The Houthis' advances have further complicated shipping routes, with Saudi Arabia attempting to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, which has also faced disruptions.
Yemen's military, with Saudi air support, launched an offensive to reclaim territory from the Houthis, who have controlled Yemen's capital since 2014. The Saudi-led coalition stated that "Operation Dawn of Yemen" involved over 1,000 strikes and 100 warplanes providing air support. Despite these efforts, Houthi advances on the ground have continued, including the encirclement of the key city of Taiz by cutting off its main supply route to Aden.
The Houthis have also targeted Saudi energy infrastructure. In recent weeks, the group claimed responsibility for ballistic missile and drone attacks on oil facilities in Riyadh and the Khurais area, causing significant fires and halting flows in Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline. This pipeline is crucial for the kingdom's oil exports, particularly since Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, another vital shipping lane.
The long-standing conflict in Yemen has intensified amid the broader Middle East war, contributing to soaring crude oil prices. Global oil stockpiles are reportedly at critically low levels, according to the CEO of Saudi Aramco.