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On September 20, 2026, Filip Sommer, Director of the Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) at CEVRO University, commented on the current security situation in Yemen and its implications for regional and global energy security on TV Nova’s programme Střepiny. In the interview, he discussed the escalation of the conflict between the Yemeni Houthis and Saudi Arabia, attacks on strategic energy infrastructure, and the consequences for global oil prices. You can watch the full interview here.You can watch the full interview here. Context The security situation on the Arabian Peninsula has deteriorated significantly in recent weeks in connection with the offensive by the Yemeni Houthi movement and growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as the armed groups supported by them. The conflict is no longer merely a regional security issue, but is also having an increasingly significant impact on global energy markets and international maritime transport. In an interview, Filip Sommer highlights the strategic importance of the Saudi Arabian East–West Pipeline, which enables oil to be transported from eastern fields to the port of Janbu on the Red Sea coast and represents an important alternative to transport via the Strait of Hormuz. The damage to this infrastructure during recent attacks has shown that even diversified export routes are not immune to regional conflicts. The interview also addresses Yemen’s growing significance in the wider geopolitical rivalry in the Middle East. The Houthis are no longer merely a domestic player in the civil war, they now exert a significant influence on security in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s most important maritime routes. Developments in Yemen therefore have a direct impact not only on the Gulf states, but also on Europe and global trade. Filip Sommer also points out that attacks on energy infrastructure have significant economic consequences. Uncertainty regarding the security of oil routes leads to increased volatility on global markets and rising oil prices, which in turn is reflected in fuel prices and inflation in a number of countries. The conflict in Yemen thus remains one of the key factors influencing energy security and the stability of the global economy.