Saudi-Backed Yemeni Forces Seize Key Red Sea Port as French Student Protests Escalate

Yemen’s internationally recognized government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, announced a significant military gain on Monday, claiming to have retaken the Red Sea city of Mokha from Iran-backed Houthi forces. According to the state-run Yemeni news agency Saba, the armed forces secured control of the port city following intense battles, bringing the government closer to dominating the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—a critical maritime chokepoint between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden that Saudi Arabia has used to export oil while bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. The advance marks a strategic victory in the ongoing conflict, though fighting in the region continues to intensify. Meanwhile, in France, a growing student-led protest movement over education funding has forced hundreds of high schools to shut down. Teacher unions have now joined the demonstrations, amplifying demands for increased financial resources for schools. The unrest has spread across the country, prompting government warnings that the situation has devolved into "urban violence," with officials blaming far-left groups for fueling the movement. The dual crises—Yemen’s military developments and France’s domestic turmoil—underscore pressing geopolitical and social challenges facing leaders in both regions.