A CNN commentator warned Friday that rapid advances by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels near a critical Red Sea shipping corridor could further destabilize global energy markets, as fuel prices in the U.S. continue climbing.
CNN political and global affairs commentator Sabrina Singh joined anchor John Berman to break down fast-moving developments in Yemen, where Houthi forces have reportedly seized the strategic port city of Mocha and, within the last 24 hours, captured Perim Island — both located near the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb, a vital chokepoint for global shipping.
The discussion came as anchor Sara Sidner noted diesel prices hit an all-time high this week, with regular gasoline prices also climbing to $4.30 a gallon, up 15 cents from just a week earlier. Diesel prices matter enormously for farmers and manufacturers, and rising input costs threaten to push food prices even higher for consumers already squeezed by inflation.
Singh explained that the Houthi advances represent a potential expansion of instability tied to the broader conflict with Iran. “What you’re seeing here is potentially the war in Iran spilling over into the region, and opening up a new front when it comes to trade and shipping lanes,” she said, noting Iran’s proxy force now potentially controls access to two critical maritime chokepoints simultaneously.
Singh added that Saudi Arabia has already been forced to reroute oil shipments away from the Red Sea, sending them instead up through the Suez Canal — a far more costly and time-consuming path. With the Houthis tightening their grip on the region, she warned that shipping disruptions are likely to worsen further, threatening to “upend the global economy.”
Berman noted that the Strait of Hormuz — a separate chokepoint — has effectively been constricted or closed for six months amid the ongoing U.S. conflict with Iran, meaning oil producers are increasingly squeezed on multiple fronts at once. He also revealed that the United States now has roughly 100 military advisors stationed in Saudi Arabia, aiding the Saudi-backed Yemeni government in its fight against the Houthis.
Singh said the Trump administration is “taking this very seriously,” warning that further Houthi gains could raise prices for American consumers at the pump and beyond. She described Saudi Arabia’s current workaround — rerouting oil through the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean, and around the Cape of Good Hope to reach Asian and European markets — as extremely costly for shippers and a major driver of rising oil prices worldwide.
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