By Samia Nakhoul ANKARA, Sept 13 (Reuters) - The Houthi capture of Yemen's Red Sea coastline is reshaping the balance of power in the Gulf, strengthening Iran's hand and confronting Saudi Arabia and its neighbours with a difficult choice: absorb mounting costs or seek accommodation with Tehran.

Houthi-aanvallen op Saudi-Arabië en in de Bab el-Mandebstraat vormen een extra hindernis voor elke poging van de VS om zich uit oorlogen in het Midden-Oosten terug te trekken.

Analysts and former officials say Trump now faces a choice: devote U.S. forces and scarce air-defense munitions to pushing back the Houthis, or leave Saudi Arabia and its allies, a Yemeni government based in the south, to confront them alone.

Iraq’s government is racing to contain the fallout after confirming that attacks on a Saudi pipeline, blamed on Iran-backed militias, came from its territory.

There was no Saudi statement Sunday on any new attacks targeting the Houthis, who have been hitting Saudi oil infrastructure and shipping as part of a recently declared blockade.

A strategic location on the Red Sea afforded the city centuries of trading dominance — and makes it a coveted target in today’s fighting in the Middle East.

By bnm Gulf bureau Yemen's Houthis said Saudi warplanes carried out 58 air strikes across six provinces in 24 hours, as fighting over the Red Sea's Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint intensifies, Arab language media reported.