Yemen’s government has launched air strikes against Houthi forces as fighting intensifies along the country’s Red Sea coast, according to Al Jazeera. The escalation comes amid a broader regional conflict that has drawn in Saudi Arabia and raised concerns about the security of vital shipping and oil infrastructure.

Al Jazeera reported that Houthi forces have seized Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The advance marks a significant territorial shift in a conflict that has spanned years and repeatedly threatened maritime traffic in one of the world’s busiest waterways.

In a development with implications for global energy markets, Saudi Arabia suspended a crucial oil pipeline following a drone attack, according to Al Jazeera. The suspension underscores the growing risk the fighting poses to Riyadh’s oil industry.

Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have been trading strikes over the Bab al-Mandeb, the strategic strait at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, Al Jazeera reported. The Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of launching 129 strikes in a 48-hour period.

Al Jazeera said fears are growing over the impact of the exchanges on Saudi Arabia’s oil sector. The Bab al-Mandeb is a critical chokepoint for international shipping, and disruptions there can ripple across global trade and energy supplies.

The reported air strikes by Yemen’s government against the Houthis add a further dimension to the conflict, with multiple parties now engaged in active military operations across the region.