Red Sea and Gulf of Oman maritime violence intensifies

Houthi attacks, mines, coastal battles and alleged Iranian weapons smuggling continue to threaten commercial shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden. A reported Houthi naval exercise signals preparation for further confrontation but is not independently verified; fatal attacks and a separate U.S. strike on a vessel bound for Iran increase the risk that maritime-security operations become another channel for regional escalation.