Shibbir Ahmed, New York — Nearly 86,000 people have fled their homes in Yemen as fighting between government forces and Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensifies, the United Nations said, citing displacement figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

IOM said 85,818 people had been displaced by the renewed fighting, including 82,164 since the beginning of September alone. The latest wave of displacement has followed intensified hostilities along Yemen’s western coast and in parts of Taiz and Al-Hodeidah. Taiz has emerged as one of the areas hardest hit by the renewed fighting, with about 9,280 households—nearly 56,000 people—displaced, according to IOM figures.

The escalation comes as the Houthis advance along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, raising fears of a wider conflict and further civilian displacement. The Iran-backed group has made gains in areas near the strategic port of Mocha and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is one of the world’s most important maritime routes. Any prolonged disruption in the area could affect international shipping, global trade and energy supplies.

The humanitarian crisis is also spilling beyond Yemen’s borders. More than 2,000 Yemenis fleeing the violence have reached Djibouti by sea, according to IOM. The crossings add another layer of danger for people already displaced by the conflict.

IOM Director General Amy Pope warned that behind the displacement figures are families who have repeatedly lost their homes and livelihoods. Many people fleeing the latest violence are crossing the sea with little more than what they can carry because they have few remaining options for safety.

Yemen has endured more than a decade of conflict since the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. A UN-brokered truce in 2022 brought a period of relative calm and largely halted major fighting, but it expired after six months without producing a lasting political settlement.

The renewed offensive has raised fears that Yemen could once again descend into prolonged large-scale warfare. Humanitarian agencies have warned that continued fighting and repeated displacement will put additional pressure on families already struggling with poverty, food insecurity and limited access to basic services.

With tens of thousands of people newly displaced and thousands more crossing the sea to Djibouti, the latest escalation threatens to deepen one of the world’s longest-running humanitarian crises.

Shibbir Ahmed, NEW YORK — The escalating war in the Middle East is threatening to deepen disruptions to global oil supplies as fresh attacks target shipping and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

A vessel was struck by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, forcing its crew to evacuate after a fire broke out, according to the British maritime security agency UKMTO. An Iranian commercial vessel was also hit off Iran’s coast, killing one person and injuring four others, further raising concerns about the safety of commercial shipping in the region.

The latest incidents came after Saudi Arabia shut down its major East-West oil pipeline following a drone attack. The pipeline, which normally carries millions of barrels of crude per day to the Red Sea, has served as a critical alternative route while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been heavily disrupted.

Reuters reported Sunday that the pipeline outage could threaten as much as 4% of global oil supply if it is not restored within days. Saudi Arabia has not provided a detailed timeline for repairs, while traders and oil buyers have offered varying estimates for how long the disruption could last.

The supply concerns are being compounded by growing instability around another major maritime chokepoint, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen have advanced along the Red Sea coast, increasing the risk of further disruption to oil and commercial shipping routes.

Global oil markets have already reacted sharply to the worsening situation. Brent crude has moved above $100 a barrel, while fuel prices have climbed as traders assess the possibility of prolonged disruptions to supplies from the Middle East. Reuters reported that U.S. diesel prices have also reached record levels.

The International Energy Agency has warned that global oil supply could decline by about 5.7 million barrels per day, or 6%, in 2026 because of the continuing conflict and disruptions in the Gulf. Saudi oil production has also fallen sharply from earlier levels.

The developments have raised fears that a prolonged conflict could push energy prices even higher, increasing transportation and production costs and adding to inflationary pressures around the world.

Diplomatic efforts to ease the crisis are continuing, but negotiations involving Iran and Gulf states over safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz have faced delays. Iran has indicated that reopening the waterway would require concessions from the United States.

With both the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb facing heightened security risks, global energy markets are increasingly vulnerable to further attacks. Any prolonged disruption at both routes could have consequences well beyond the Middle East, affecting fuel prices, shipping costs, inflation and economic growth worldwide.

Shibbir Ahmed, NEW YORK — Iran-aligned Houthi forces have seized the strategic Mayun Island at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, tightening their grip around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and raising fresh concerns over global shipping and energy supplies.

The Houthis also took control of Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Mokha on Thursday and have advanced along the coast toward strategic islands, according to Reuters and the Associated Press. The developments represent the group’s most significant territorial gains since a 2022 truce largely halted Yemen’s civil war.

Mayun Island, also known as Perim, sits in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. About 12% of global goods normally pass through the waterway, making any prolonged disruption a potential threat to international trade.

The latest Houthi advance comes as shipping through the nearby Strait of Hormuz has already been severely disrupted by the wider Middle East conflict. Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on the Red Sea route to move oil after traffic through Hormuz became heavily restricted.

The potential loss of secure access to both major maritime corridors has heightened concerns among energy traders and shipping companies. Reuters reported that Saudi crude production fell to about 6 million barrels per day in August, its lowest level in more than three decades, partly because of disruptions linked to attacks on shipping around the Bab el-Mandeb.

Oil markets have responded sharply to the growing risks. Brent crude rose above $100 a barrel this week, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude also crossed the $100 threshold as traders assessed the possibility of further supply disruptions.

Saudi Arabia has responded to the Houthi advance with military action. A Houthi-controlled broadcaster reported that Saudi forces carried out airstrikes on the airport in Mokha after the port city fell to the group. There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage.

The escalation has also raised fears of a renewed wider conflict inside Yemen. More than 46,000 people have fled their homes since the latest fighting began, according to the U.N. migration agency, while Yemen’s internationally recognized government has indicated that it intends to launch a counteroffensive to recover territory captured by the Houthis.

For international shipping, the main concern is whether the Houthis will use their new positions to further restrict commercial traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb. Shipping through the waterway had already fallen substantially after Houthi attacks on commercial vessels beginning in late 2023, prompting many shipping companies to reroute vessels around Africa.

With both the Bab el-Mandeb and Strait of Hormuz facing serious security challenges, businesses are preparing for potentially higher transportation and energy costs. Any prolonged disruption could affect oil prices, shipping rates and the movement of goods between Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

The latest developments have therefore transformed the Houthi advance from a regional military development into a growing concern for global trade and energy markets.