Three Iranian sources report that Beijing requested Tehran use its influence to restrain Yemen's Houthi forces to protect energy exports. This private request followed a diplomatic appeal from Saudi Arabia after Houthi military advances along the Red Sea coast and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait increased risks to shipping. Beijing did not leverage its economic power or issue threats, and Iran officials replied that regional peace depends on ending the war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran.

Houthi forces constructed 11 kilometers of earthen berms along frontline positions north of al Aradi from September 11 to 16 to fortify their hold on the coastal plain. This activity follows a military offensive between September 9 and 11 that granted the group near-exclusive control over the southern Red Sea islands. The Houthis have conditioned their restraint regarding non-Saudi international vessels on the U.S. refraining from providing military support to Riyadh.