The crisis in the Red sea has dangerously escalated, marked by direct Israeli airstrikes on Yemen's capital and a new phase of intensified attacks on commercial shipping by Iran-backed Houthi militants. The developments have deepened geopolitical tensions, severely disrupted a vital global trade artery, and prompted a divided response from the international community.

In a major expansion of the conflict, Israeli forces conducted airstrikes on multiple locations in Sanaa, Yemen, on august 24, 2025. According to the Israeli military, the operation targeted Houthi facilities that support their military capabilities, including power plants and a military site. The strikes, which reportedly involved over 10 jets, were a direct retaliation for a recent Houthi missile attack on Israel. Israeli officials identified the Houthi projectile as a cluster bomb, a weapon they noted poses a new level of threat due to its difficulty to intercept. The attacks in Sanaa resulted in at least two deaths and 35 injuries and caused a significant fire at an oil facility.

The Israeli action follows a renewed and deadlier campaign by the Houthis against maritime traffic. The group has announced the "fourth phase" of its operations, vowing to target any vessel from any company that deals with Israeli ports. This declaration came after the Houthis successfully sank two Greek-operated cargo ships, the "Magic Seas" and "Eternity C," in early july. These attacks were the first sinkings since december 2024 and resulted in at least two seafarers dead, two presumed dead, and at least 11 crew members from the Eternity C being held in Houthi custody in Yemen.

Houthi leadership has stated their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza and have vowed to continue their military campaign.

The international response to the escalating crisis remains complex. The United States continues to lead "Operation Prosperity Guardian," a multinational naval coalition including the United Kingdom, France, and Canada, aimed at protecting freedom of navigation. Despite the coalition’s presence and a reported $7 billion investment in strikes against Houthi targets, many analysts argue the strategy has been ineffective at halting the attacks.

In response to the recent ship sinkings, Greece announced it would deploy a salvage vessel to the region. At the United Nations, the Security Council voted to extend its monitoring of Houthi attacks until january 15, 2026. The resolution, sponsored by the U.S. and Greece, passed 12-0 but saw abstentions from Russia, China, and Algeria. These nations criticized military strikes against Yemen as a violation of its sovereignty and argued that the Red sea crisis cannot be solved without addressing the war in Gaza.

The turmoil has had a profound impact on global commerce. Many of the world’s largest shipping companies have rerouted their fleets away from the Red sea and the Suez canal, opting for the longer and more expensive journey around Africa's Cape of Good Hope. This diversion has increased costs and shipping times, affecting global supply chains.

With the Houthis bolstering their domestic support through their anti-Israel stance and the conflict now drawing in direct state-on-state military action, experts warn that a lasting solution remains distant. Analysts suggest that stability will only return to the vital waterway through a resolution of Yemen’s long-running civil war and the broader regional tensions fueling the conflict.