The capture by the rebels of a stretch Yemen's strategic coastline is the group's most impressive military coup for several years.

SANAA, Yemen — The Iran-backed Houthis seized control of Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast and captured three strategic islands on Friday, in a lightning offensive that cemented their hold on a vital shipping corridor linking Europe and Asia.

If the Houthis "use their presence in Mokha to ramp up threats or attacks on shipping in the Red Sea," The Associated Press said, that "gives Iran another potential point of leverage in its war with the U.

If the militants gain complete control of Bab al-Mandab Strait, it will increase Tehran's leverage in its standoff with the Trump administration.

Houthis try to take control of more of Yemen’s Red Sea coast from Saudi-backed government, giving Iran and its allies control over a key shipping lane

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy said Friday that it had shut down a major cross-country oil pipeline after it was attacked the day before. The statement did not specify who carried out the attacks and called the shutdown “a precautionary measure.

Diesel prices in the U.S. have hit a painful new milestone, $6 a gallon as, reports said, Houthi rebels in Yemen took the key Red Sea port city of Mokha.