What happened
Houthi rebels have taken control of Yemen's Red Sea coastline, including the strategic island of Perim in the Bab el Mandeb Strait, a vital shipping route linking Europe and Asia.
The Houthis' advance has forced the shutdown of a critical oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia, with the country's energy ministry confirming that drones launched from Iraq attacked the East-West pipeline, resulting in injuries and a 60-mile smoke plume along its route.
The conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government has been ongoing since 2014, but has intensified in recent weeks, raising concerns of a return to all-out war and posing a threat to the global economy.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has urged President Donald Trump to take military action against the Houthis, but so far, Trump has declined, instead agreeing to provide military assistance, such as helping the Saudis develop targeting and sharing information.
The situation has led to a significant increase in global oil prices, with prices set to end the week above $100 a barrel for the first time since mid-May.
The United Nations has warned that at least 46,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since fighting escalated last week, with the numbers of those displaced rising by the hour.
