In Yemen, where civil war continues, the offensive over control of territory held by the interim government has intensified, and the Houthis have begun moving to seize port cities. As tensions rise around the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, concerns have emerged that this could affect oil transportation, including shipments to Japan.
Al-Alimi (アリーミ), chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council of the interim government, emphasized in a speech on the 4th that “we will retake all territory under the control of armed groups” and declared the resumption of the civil war. Until then, the interim government’s control had been limited to major cities in the west, while the Houthis had expanded their control over areas in the east and along the southern coast.
Since September, the Houthis have intensified their offensive and seized port cities including Mokha on the Red Sea coast. They have recently been reported to have “effectively laid siege” to the southern city of Taiz, which is controlled by the interim government.
Saudi Arabia, concerned that critical positions in the east and west had been captured, emphasized its full support. According to reports, more than 100 military aircraft took part in the offensive on the 5th and attacked more than 300 targets.
As tensions rise in the Middle East and US-Iran maneuvering over the Strait of Hormuz continues, the Houthis are reportedly increasing the risk of disrupting shipping in the Red Sea and attacking Saudi oil-related facilities. The resulting regional instability could also affect Japan’s oil transportation.