Houthi Advances Threaten Red Sea Shipping and Regional Stability

According to government sources, witnesses and regional media reports, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has seized the last government-held towns on Yemen’s Red Sea coast and extended its presence into the Bab al-Mandab strait. Houthi fighters reportedly captured Mocha, advanced to Dhubab, took the Al-Omari camp overlooking the strait and landed on Mayyun, or Perim, Island after government forces withdrew. However, there has been no official announcement from the Houthi authorities confirming full control of Bab al-Mandab. The reported gains would give the Houthis significant leverage over one of the world’s most important maritime routes. Bab al-Mandab connects the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea and provides access toward the Suez Canal, Saudi oil terminals and European markets. Shipping traffic in the Red Sea had already declined during an earlier Houthi campaign against commercial vessels. The latest developments come amid a broader US-Iran war, disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and rising global energy prices. US diesel prices reportedly exceeded $6 per gallon, while oil prices were expected to close above $100 per barrel. A Houthi politburo member sought to reassure international shipping operators, saying navigation and trade through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab were safe. Meanwhile, reports said Saudi Arabia carried out air strikes on Mocha airport, although Al Jazeera could not independently verify the claims or any casualties. Iran called for an end to Saudi Arabia’s blockade of Yemen and a return to negotiations. The escalation illustrates how the Yemen conflict could widen into a broader regional crisis, with Iranian, Saudi, Pakistani and Omani diplomatic efforts focused on stability and the possible reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg has warned the UN Security Council that Yemen has entered “a new and more dangerous phase of war” after the collapse of the country’s fragile four-year truce. His warning followed the Houthi rebels’ capture of the strategic port city of Mocha, near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key route for global trade and energy shipments. Grundberg said fighting had spread across Taiz, Hodeidah, Marib, al-Jawf and al-Bayda, killing civilians and displacing more than 11,400 households since September 3. He also condemned Houthi attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, urging the group to stop attacks and threats against commercial vessels. He called for civilian protection, continued diplomatic engagement and preservation of a political settlement, warning that the conflict’s effects would extend beyond Yemen. Representatives of Yemen’s internationally recognised government, Saudi Arabia, the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council condemned the Houthi escalation. Yemen’s UN ambassador, Abdullah Ali Fadhel Al-Saadi, said at least 6,145 families—about 44,000 people—had been displaced. Saudi Ambassador Abdulaziz al-Wasil said Houthi strikes on September 8 wounded 73 civilians and threatened both regional stability and international shipping. He called for enforcement of UN resolutions 2216 and 2722 and an end to support for the attacks. The United States accused Iran of enabling the Houthis and demanded an immediate end to the attacks and the unconditional release of detained UN, humanitarian and diplomatic personnel. Gulf Cooperation Council representatives also called for accountability, tighter enforcement of the arms embargo and sanctions. Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned that food shortages and malnutrition were worsening. Yemen is now classified as a hunger hotspot of highest concern, with an estimated 18.3 million people facing acute food insecurity and more than 2.2 million children under five suffering acute malnutrition, including over half a million severe cases.

BBC diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams examines the Houthis’ rapid capture of territory along Yemen’s Tihamah coastal plain, including an estimated 130km of strategically important Red Sea coastline. The advance has surprised and demoralised the Saudi-backed National Resistance coalition and may be difficult and costly to reverse. It also demonstrates that the Houthis remain a formidable military force despite years of civil war and attacks by Saudi Arabia, the United States, Israel and Britain. The article argues that the development could significantly strengthen Iran’s regional leverage. Iran already has influence over the Strait of Hormuz through its own military capabilities and alliances; Houthi control near the Bab al-Mandab could give Tehran indirect influence over another vital maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Suez Canal. Control of nearby islands, including Perim, could further improve the Houthis’ ability to threaten international shipping with missiles, drones and small boats. Shipping companies are therefore unlikely to accept the Houthis’ assurance that maritime navigation is safe except for Saudi vessels, particularly given the group’s earlier attacks on ships without clear links to Israel. The potential consequences extend beyond maritime trade. Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline may add pressure to an already vulnerable regional energy system. Analysts cited in the article believe Iran may be encouraging a stronger Houthi foothold on the Red Sea, although the Houthis are not simply Iranian puppets. At the same time, US President Donald Trump appears reluctant to open another military front while facing domestic opposition and rising oil prices. The escalation risks a return to full-scale war in Yemen, worsening the suffering of a population already displaced, impoverished, starved and affected by twelve years of conflict.

The live report describes two interconnected developments: a sharp increase in U.S. diesel prices and a rapidly worsening conflict in Yemen that threatens Red Sea shipping and global energy markets. The national average price of diesel reached $6.05 per gallon, up more than 60% from $3.71 a year earlier. Experts warned that transportation companies and other businesses could pass higher fuel costs on to consumers. In Yemen, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels reportedly seized the strategic Red Sea port of Mokha and the nearby island of Mayun, also known as Perim, in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The waterway connects the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and is a major route for international commerce and Saudi oil exports. Control of Mokha and Mayun could make it easier for the Houthis to threaten tankers and other commercial vessels, while giving Iran additional leverage against the United States and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia responded with airstrikes, including attacks on Mokha’s airport. Iran called for an end to Saudi Arabia’s blockade of Yemen and urged an immediate return to negotiations. A Houthi political official attempted to reassure international shipping interests, saying navigation through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb remained safe, despite the group’s territorial advances. The escalation has also produced a major humanitarian crisis. The International Organization for Migration said at least 46,000 people had been displaced since the fighting intensified, more than double the figure reported earlier in the week. Villages have reportedly emptied, roads have been cut, and access to humanitarian assistance has become increasingly difficult. The report also says President Trump rejected Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s request for U.S. strikes, although Washington agreed to provide intelligence and targeting support.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has urged President Donald Trump to launch U.S. military action against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, according to two sources familiar with recent discussions. The requests come as Houthi forces expand their control along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including the strategic port of Mokha and the last two islands in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait that they did not previously control. Despite the Saudi pressure, Trump has reportedly declined to commit U.S. forces directly, offering intelligence and targeting assistance instead. The discussions remain fluid, and the sources spoke anonymously because of the sensitivity of the talks. The Saudi government is reportedly seeking to assemble a regional coalition to counter the Houthis and protect Saudi Arabia from possible Iranian retaliation. Saudi officials and regional partners fear that an attack on the Houthis could prompt Iran to strike Saudi territory. U.S. Central Command commander Adm. Bradley Cooper reportedly traveled to Saudi Arabia for coordination talks, although CENTCOM did not confirm his location. The Houthi advances have raised concerns about freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandeb, a crucial maritime chokepoint. Oil prices have remained near $100 per barrel, and analysts have warned they could rise to $120 if fighting continues in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was closely monitoring events, while a senior administration official said Washington was focused on protecting navigation and supporting regional partners. The report also places the developments within a broader escalation between the United States and Iran, including attacks on U.S. forces, the destruction of Iranian oil tankers, missile strikes against a U.S. base in Jordan, and the use of Patriot missiles to defend American aircraft and personnel.

Iran-backed Houthi forces reportedly seized Yemen’s Perim Island after capturing the port city of Mokha, strengthening their position near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime passage linking the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and global markets. The reports, attributed to multiple Yemeni government sources, could not be independently confirmed by CNBC. The rapid advance represents a major setback for Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni forces it supports, while increasing the possibility that Iran and its regional proxies could threaten oil-shipping chokepoints on both sides of the Arabian Peninsula: the Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz. The Houthi gains reportedly prompted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to ask U.S. President Donald Trump to authorize military action against the group. Trump declined, according to a person familiar with the conversations, saying the United States did not intend to expand its regional military campaign to include the Houthis. A senior U.S. administration official said Washington remained focused on protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea while encouraging regional partners to manage local security challenges. Analysts warned that control of Mokha, located roughly 75 kilometers north of Bab el-Mandeb, could enable further Houthi advances and increase risks to shipping and Saudi energy infrastructure. Verisk Maplecroft analyst Hamish Kinnear said the conflict could keep oil, gas and refined-product prices elevated, although U.S. convoys and alternative routes through Hormuz might limit the effect. Oil prices fell on Friday, but Brent remained above $104 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate near $99. ING analysts said shipping flows through Hormuz were already below prewar levels and described regional energy infrastructure and Red Sea exports as increasingly vulnerable.

Fighting between Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement and the internationally recognized government has intensified, raising fears that Yemen could be drawn into the wider US-Iran conflict. The Houthis reportedly seized the strategically important port city of Mokha, followed by Dhubab and the island of Perim. The three locations lie near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital waterway linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. With Iran having blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, control over Bab el-Mandeb could give Tehran additional leverage over Saudi oil exports and international shipping. The escalation has also spread directly to Saudi Arabia. The Houthis launched dozens of ballistic missiles and drones at four Saudi cities, while the group said Saudi Arabia responded with airstrikes in four Yemeni provinces. Analysts described the situation as approaching a full-scale war, although Saudi Arabia appears more likely to be seeking to restore deterrence and improve the government’s negotiating position than to launch a campaign aimed at defeating the Houthis outright. The conflict is occurring in a significantly changed political and military landscape. The Houthis are stronger than they were in 2015 and control Sanaa, much of northern Yemen, and increasing stretches of the western coast. The anti-Houthi camp remains fragmented, while previous divisions involving the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council have further weakened Yemen’s government forces. Pakistan faces pressure to support Saudi Arabia under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement but is expected to avoid direct intervention and preserve its ties with Iran. The humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly. Nearly 200 people have reportedly been killed in the latest fighting and about 18,500 displaced. UN and humanitarian officials warned that Yemen is returning to war, threatening civilians in a country where nearly two-thirds of the population already needs aid.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has expanded its control over strategically important territory near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a narrow passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and one of the world’s most important shipping routes. After capturing the port city of Mokha, Houthi forces reportedly seized Perim Island, also known as Mayyun, which lies inside the strait. Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces said they had withdrawn from the island. The Houthis also reportedly captured Dhubab, a coastal town south of Mokha and closer to the strait’s narrowest point. The developments raise concerns about the vulnerability of Red Sea shipping, particularly as the route has become an important alternative to the Strait of Hormuz amid disruptions linked to the United States’ war with Iran and a sharp rise in global oil prices. Houthi spokesperson Abdulsalam said navigation and international trade remained safe, while claiming that Houthi operations were restricted to specific targets. The group has previously attacked international shipping in the Red Sea, stating that its actions support Palestinians in Gaza. Separately, Saudi Arabia temporarily halted operations on its East-West oil pipeline after attacks near Riyadh and Medina. The pipeline transports oil from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea and provides an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi officials said the attacks caused injuries and alleged that drones had been launched from Iraq. The Houthis, meanwhile, accused Saudi Arabia of conducting airstrikes in Taiz province. The reported territorial gains come as fighting between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognized government intensifies following several years of relative calm. The capture of Mokha is described as the Houthis’ largest territorial advance since a UN-brokered truce in 2022. The conflict has killed more than 150,000 people and pushed many others toward famine.

The article reports that Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement captured Mayyun Island, also known as Perim, after government forces withdrew, giving the group control over the Bab el-Mandeb, a strategic strait linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal. Local officials and eyewitnesses said Houthi fighters deployed on the island and along the coast. The group reportedly also seized the town of Dhubab, the village of Murad, the port city of Mokha, and Zuqar Island, while besieging government troops on the Hanish islands. Government sources said more than 2,000 soldiers may be trapped and have appealed for food, water, rescue, and air support. The reported takeover has major international implications because Bab el-Mandeb is a major route for container shipping and energy supplies. Combined with Iran’s reported blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the article says roughly a third of global seaborne trade could be placed under hostile control. The Houthis have previously attacked shipping in the region and were reportedly considering imposing passage fees, although Houthi political official Hazem al-Assad said international navigation remained safe. The offensive is presented as part of a broader escalation in Yemen’s civil war and the regional confrontation involving Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. Saudi Arabia has responded to Houthi attacks with airstrikes, while oil prices reportedly exceeded $100 per barrel. A recent Saudi mutual-defense agreement with Turkey and Pakistan is unlikely to produce immediate military involvement. The United States has threatened action against any Red Sea blockade but is reportedly reluctant to intervene, while President Donald Trump allegedly rejected a Saudi request for strikes. Iran praised the Houthi advance, and reports claimed that Iranian Revolutionary Guard advisers were assisting the group, though Euronews said those claims could not be independently verified.

The article reports that Iran-backed Houthi forces have rapidly expanded their control along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, seizing the strategic island of Mayyun—also known as Perim—and the mainland coastal town of Dhubab. The advances reportedly followed the withdrawal of forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government and came shortly after the Houthis captured the port of Mocha. The developments have prompted Saudi Arabia to urge the United States to take direct military action against the Houthis. According to a source familiar with the matter, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the situation with President Donald Trump several times over a 24-hour period. The United States is reportedly reluctant to launch direct strikes for now, but Trump told the crown prince that Washington would provide intelligence and targeting assistance. U.S. Central Command commander Adm. Brad Cooper also traveled to Saudi Arabia for coordination discussions. The Houthi gains are significant because Bab el-Mandeb is a major maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Control or disruption of the passage could threaten global shipping, particularly oil shipments, at a time when Iran is already disrupting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The article frames the situation as a potential simultaneous threat to two of the world’s most important shipping routes. Iran analyst Behnam Ben Taleblu said Tehran may be strengthening the Houthis to regain leverage lost in the Strait of Hormuz. Former U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Timothy Lenderking said the Houthis used the period following the 2022 United Nations-brokered truce to rebuild their military capabilities and are exploiting the broader Iran conflict to pressure Saudi Arabia. The supplied article ends while Lenderking is explaining how the truce paused, but did not resolve, Yemen’s civil war.

A France 24 liveblog report says that Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have seized control of the country’s entire Red Sea coastline, according to a Yemeni government official. If confirmed, the development would bring the Houthis closer to near-total control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints and a vital route for commercial shipping, including energy supplies. The report presents the territorial advance as part of a wider escalation involving Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel, Lebanon and the United States. The article says Saudi authorities issued brief warnings about possible danger in two areas near the Yemeni border after the Houthis accused Riyadh of carrying out dozens of air strikes in Yemen. It also reports that a 4.1-magnitude earthquake was detected in southern Lebanon by the US Geological Survey after Israel said it had destroyed tunnels belonging to Hezbollah. Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its navy had targeted a US unmanned surface vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, another strategically important waterway. The piece is presented as a chronological Middle East liveblog and notes that it is no longer being updated. It was issued on September 11, 2026, and attributed to France 24, with information from Reuters, the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. The report provides limited detail about the alleged Houthi seizure, including no independent confirmation, operational timeline or explanation of how control was established. Its central significance is the potential impact on regional security and international shipping, particularly because Houthi control of the Red Sea coast could increase pressure on traffic passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have reportedly captured Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the nearby Yemeni coastal town of Dhubab, tightening their control over a vital maritime passage at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The move represents a major expansion of the group’s position along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and opens a new front in the wider war between Iran and the United States. Control of Bab el-Mandeb could allow Iran and its allies to disrupt another major global shipping corridor after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed following months of US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter and a US ally, has relied increasingly on Red Sea routes to transport crude after shipping through Hormuz became dangerous. Any further disruption could reduce energy supplies and push oil prices higher. Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline was temporarily shut after attacks, although Saudi authorities did not confirm the incident. The International Energy Agency said Saudi crude supply fell by 2.3 million barrels per day in August, partly because Houthi-linked groups targeted ships using Bab el-Mandeb. Oil prices remained above $100 a barrel for the week. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said navigation remained safe for most vessels but that Saudi ships remained subject to a blockade. Yemeni government forces said they would launch a counteroffensive using weapons and aircraft to retake captured areas, including the route to Mocha and the Hanish Islands. Sources told Reuters that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards directed the Houthi advance and that Tehran had promised additional funding, weapons and senior officers. Iran publicly describes the Houthis as allies while denying that it controls their military operations. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly asked US President Donald Trump for military assistance, but Washington declined direct intervention for now and offered intelligence and targeting support instead.

France 24’s live Middle East coverage reports that Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen have seized Perim Island, also known as Mayyun, in the Red Sea. A local government official and eyewitnesses said the takeover places the Houthis in control of a strategically important position in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital maritime route linking Asia and Europe. The development would complete the group’s reported effort to dominate the area around the strait, though the account is attributed to local sources rather than independently verified in the article. The report also recaps several major developments from the previous day. Saudi authorities issued brief warnings about possible danger in two areas near the Yemeni border after the Houthis claimed that Riyadh had carried out dozens of air strikes in Yemen. The article does not provide further details or independent confirmation of either the alleged strikes or the warnings. Elsewhere, the US Geological Survey recorded a magnitude 4.1 earthquake in southern Lebanon. This occurred after the Israeli military said it had destroyed tunnels belonging to Hezbollah, linking the seismic event to a wider context of heightened regional tensions, although the article does not claim the earthquake was related to the military operation. The report further states that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said its navy had targeted a US unmanned surface vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. Together, the developments point to escalating military and security risks across key waterways and conflict zones in the Middle East, including the Bab al-Mandab and Hormuz straits. The liveblog was issued on September 11, 2026, and updated later that day, with reporting attributed to France 24, Reuters, the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have seized Mocha, a strategically important port city on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, in a major escalation of their offensive against Saudi-backed government forces. A Yemeni military source said the Houthis were advancing toward the Bab al-Mandab Strait after taking Mocha, while Houthi forces also claimed control of Zuqar Island. The strait connects the Red Sea and Suez Canal with the Indian Ocean and is a vital shipping route between Asia and Europe. The capture has heightened concerns about Houthi control over Yemen’s coastline and their ability to disrupt maritime traffic with missiles and drones. Security analyst Andreas Krieg said control of the coast would strengthen the group’s “maritime coercion.” The conflict has already contributed to disruption in Gulf shipping and rising oil prices, with US crude surpassing $100 per barrel and Brent crude having crossed that threshold the previous day. Saudi Arabia reportedly conducted 64 airstrikes in Yemen over a 24-hour period after Houthi missile and drone attacks on southern Saudi cities wounded dozens of people. The offensive has displaced nearly 20,000 people, while more than 500 people—mostly combatants—have reportedly been killed since fighting resumed the previous week. Civilians fleeing Mocha and nearby areas described an apocalyptic atmosphere and alleged looting by gangs. The renewed violence began in July after a confrontation involving an Iranian aircraft and Saudi control of Yemeni airspace. It threatens to return Yemen to the prolonged war and humanitarian crisis that followed the Houthi seizure of Sanaa and the Saudi-led intervention in 2015. The United Nations Security Council met to address the escalation, with UN envoy Hans Grundberg warning that the conflict could develop into a far more dangerous regional crisis and calling for immediate de-escalation.

The article reports that Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have captured the strategic island of Mayun, also known as Perim, at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, and seized the nearby port city of Mokha. The moves give the Houthis control near the 28-kilometer-wide Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial shipping route linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The developments open a new front in the wider Iran-related conflict and threaten Saudi Arabia’s efforts to export oil through the Red Sea after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia reportedly struck an airport in Mokha after the Houthi takeover, although there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. Houthi officials claimed gains along the coast and warned that maritime traffic would be safe for all companies except Saudi vessels. Markets reacted nervously, with crude oil prices rising above $100 per barrel. Shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb has already fallen sharply since Houthi attacks began in late 2023, and renewed threats are forcing Saudi Arabia to consider longer routes through the Suez Canal or Egypt. The article also describes political and military tensions. A Yemeni government official criticized Saudi Arabia’s slow response and blamed poor coordination among allied forces. Iran called for an end to Saudi Arabia’s blockade of Houthi-held areas and urged renewed Saudi-Houthi negotiations, while suggesting that Yemen should be included in any future U.S.-Iran settlement. The fighting threatens to end a fragile truce that has largely halted Yemen’s civil war since 2022. More than 46,000 people fled their homes during the week, according to the International Organization for Migration. Aid officials warned that displacement could rise sharply and that civilians fear a return to a conflict that has already killed about 150,000 people and pushed many others toward famine.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have seized Yemen’s strategic port city of Mokha, according to Houthi officials and representatives of Yemen’s internationally recognized government. Located roughly 50 miles from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Mokha provides a potential new base for threatening one of the world’s most important maritime routes. The strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and normally carries about 12% of global goods, while its importance to oil supplies has increased because shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted during the wider Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict. The capture is the Houthis’ largest territorial gain since a 2022 truce brought relative calm to Yemen after years of civil war. Residents reported seeing Houthi forces throughout Mokha, while markets and roads were closed. Doctors fled a seized hospital, and civilians moved south toward Aden, which is controlled by Saudi-backed forces. The Houthis have also advanced elsewhere in Taiz province, gaining control of an important supply route. Analysts warn that the takeover could allow the Houthis to intensify attacks on Red Sea shipping, potentially including the use of sea mines. Commercial traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb has already fallen by about 60% since Houthi attacks began in late 2023. The group’s new position could also strengthen Iran’s leverage in negotiations with the United States and increase pressure on Saudi Arabia, a U.S. ally. The advance has raised fears that Yemen’s civil war could return to full scale. At an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting, envoy Hans Grundberg said the offensive marked the end of Yemen’s period of relative calm and warned that its consequences could extend beyond the country. Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the United States urged stronger international action, including sanctions and measures to restrict arms supplies to the Houthis. Government forces reportedly launched airstrikes near Taiz, although Houthi claims about additional strikes could not be independently verified.

A fragile truce in Yemen has deteriorated after Iran-backed Houthi fighters reportedly seized the port city of Mokha and the island of Mayun, also known as Perim, along the Red Sea. The gains give the Houthis greater control near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a major shipping route, while Saudi-backed Yemeni forces have retreated from several districts in Taiz and Hodeidah governorates. The escalation is part of a broader confrontation involving the Houthis, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United States. Houthi leader Mohammed Bukhti said the group’s attacks on Saudi-aligned forces and shipping were retaliation for Saudi Arabia’s blockade and military campaign in Yemen. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, says Houthi missiles and drones have struck its oil infrastructure and caused fires, casualties and operational disruptions. The violence has contributed to a sharp rise in energy prices. Brent crude briefly exceeded $108 per barrel before settling around $105, while U.S. gasoline prices reached nearly $4.30 per gallon, more than 34% above the previous year. Diesel prices rose more than 63% to nearly $6.06 per gallon. Saudi oil exports also fell to their lowest level in more than a decade, according to data cited from Kpler. Attacks and closures affecting the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb have forced Saudi Arabia to reroute oil through longer and more expensive routes, including the Suez Canal and around Africa. The Saudi Energy Ministry confirmed a precautionary suspension after an attack on an east-west pipeline near the Red Sea. Analysts warn that continued disruption could drive energy prices higher, while diplomatic efforts involving Oman, Iran and Gulf Arab states seek to reopen shipping routes. The fighting has also displaced at least 18,500 people, according to the International Organization for Migration, worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis.

Iran-backed Houthi forces have reportedly seized Yemen’s strategic port city of Mocha and advanced toward positions near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, creating a potential second major threat to global maritime trade while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely constrained. The Bab el-Mandeb, which links the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean with the Red Sea and Suez Canal, is a crucial route for goods traveling between Asia and Europe and for energy shipments. Yemeni government sources said the Houthis also reached the Hanish Islands, while Saudi-backed government forces withdrew toward Dhubab, near the strategic island of Perim. Control of those areas could give the Houthis greater influence over the narrow strait, which is approximately 18 miles wide at its narrowest point. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that oil flows through Bab el-Mandeb rose to 8.1 million barrels per day in the second quarter of 2026, partly because Saudi Arabia rerouted crude through its East-West pipeline to Yanbu to avoid Hormuz. Hormuz flows, meanwhile, fell to 4.9 million barrels per day from 21.6 million. Analysts warned that the Houthi advance could increase energy and consumer-goods prices and provide the group with captured weapons, vehicles, drones and ammunition. Reuters reported that Iranian arms, funding and Revolutionary Guards guidance helped the offensive, although Tehran denied directing Houthi operations. The seizure followed a sharp escalation in Yemen’s civil war. ACLED recorded at least 276 deaths from September 3 to 7 as fighting spread across several provinces, particularly along the Red Sea coast. Saudi Arabia launched at least 15 strikes during that period, while the Houthis later fired drones and ballistic missiles at Saudi cities, injuring 73 people. The conflict is also testing a new Saudi-Pakistani-Turkish defense agreement. Pakistan said no military response under the pact was currently being considered, although it would act if necessary. The article concludes with the Houthis’ claim that navigation through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb remains safe, though the supplied text ends mid-sentence.

Saudi Arabia shut its East-West oil pipeline after repeated drone strikes set sections of the infrastructure on fire and caused several injuries, according to the country’s energy ministry. The pipeline can transport up to 7 million barrels of crude oil per day to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, making the disruption significant for global energy markets. A senior Saudi official reportedly told The Wall Street Journal that the attacks originated in Iraq and were carried out by Iranian-backed militias working in coordination with the Houthis. Saudi Arabia is not expected to retaliate, according to the report. The strikes occurred as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement captured Mayun, a small island located within the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The 20-mile-wide waterway connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is an important route for Saudi oil exports and international shipping. The Houthis said they would escalate their campaign against Saudi Arabia and warned that maritime navigation would be safe for all companies except Saudi vessels. The developments have increased pressure on an already unstable oil market, with crude prices rising above $100 per barrel during the week. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly asked President Trump twice to authorize US strikes against the Houthis, but the Trump administration declined and is not currently planning a military campaign. Saudi Arabia has increasingly depended on Red Sea routes because passage through the Strait of Hormuz has been affected by the US conflict with Iran. Shipping through Bab el-Mandeb has fallen by 60% since Houthi attacks began in 2023. Riyadh has consequently sought alternative export routes through the Suez Canal and Egypt. Iran called for an end to Saudi Arabia’s blockade of Houthi-controlled areas and urged renewed negotiations.

Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut its 1,200-kilometre East-West oil pipeline after it was attacked by drones reportedly launched from Iraq. The attack caused several injuries, according to the article, and both Baghdad and Riyadh said the drones originated in Iraq, where Iranian-backed militias operate. Iraq responded by dismissing a military commander on Saturday. The pipeline is strategically important because it transports Saudi crude across the Arabian Peninsula and allows the country to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping through the strait has slowed to a trickle amid the widening war between the United States and Iran. The pipeline had been moving between 4 million and 5 million barrels of oil per day in recent months, equivalent to approximately 4 to 5 per cent of global supply, according to ship-tracking companies and analysts. Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry said the shutdown was a precautionary measure. Nevertheless, the closure adds to mounting disruptions affecting energy flows across the region. Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen have tightened their control over parts of the Red Sea, while the combined disruption in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz has created pressure on both sides of the Arabian Peninsula. Global oil prices have consequently risen above US$100 per barrel. Four Yemeni government sources also said that the Houthis seized Perim, a strategically located island at the entrance to the Red Sea, on Friday. The island lies in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint. The pipeline attack, the Hormuz shipping disruption and the Houthi activity together raise concerns about the security of major oil-export routes and the potential impact on global energy supplies.

The article reports that Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen reached Perim, a strategically located island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to four sources from Yemen’s internationally recognised government who spoke to Reuters. Two government sources said Saudi-backed Yemeni forces had withdrawn from the island and that the Houthis had also captured the nearby mainland coastal town of Dhubab, which faces Perim. Control of the Bab el-Mandeb could significantly strengthen the Houthis’ influence over one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints. The strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and provides a major route for international shipping and energy supplies. The article notes that the waterway lies on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula from the Strait of Hormuz, which has reportedly been effectively closed by the broader conflict between Iran and the United States. A Houthi takeover of the Bab el-Mandeb could give Iran a strategic advantage by constraining access to a second major shipping corridor, potentially reducing oil supplies and driving up energy prices. Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter and a close US ally, has relied on the Red Sea route since traffic through Hormuz was disrupted. The developments come amid escalating attacks on Gulf shipping by Iran and the US, as well as increased economic pressure from US President Donald Trump on Tehran. Diplomatic efforts remain largely stalled. Iran confirmed that representatives from Iran, Iraq and the Gulf Arab states would meet in Oman on Monday to resume talks on securing commercial shipping through Hormuz. The planned meeting was first reported by the Financial Times.

According to four Yemeni government sources cited by Reuters, Iran-aligned Houthi forces reached Perim, a strategically important island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, on Sept. 11. Two other sources said internationally recognised, Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces had withdrawn from the island and that the Houthis had captured the mainland coastal town of Dhubab, which faces Perim. The developments could give the Houthis greater leverage over one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints. The Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is an alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz, which the article says has effectively been closed by the Iran-U.S. conflict. Control of both corridors could reduce global energy shipments, strengthen Iran’s position and push oil prices higher. Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on its East-West oil pipeline to move crude from its eastern coast to Red Sea ports. Satellite imagery showed smoke near the pipeline, although Saudi authorities and Aramco had not confirmed any incident. The International Energy Agency reported that Saudi crude supply fell by 2.3 million barrels per day in August to 6 million bpd, its lowest level in more than three decades. Oil prices were on course to finish the week above US$100 a barrel, while shipping through Hormuz declined further. A possible temporary arrangement to manage traffic through Hormuz was reportedly being discussed by Middle Eastern foreign ministers. Yemeni government forces said they planned a counteroffensive, including the use of weapons and aircraft, to retake positions captured along the Red Sea coast, including Mocha and the Hanish islands. Reuters also reported that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had guided the Houthi advance and that Tehran promised additional funding, weapons and officers, claims Iran publicly rejects. Separately, Axios reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked U.S. President Donald Trump to strike the Houthis, but Trump declined for now. Gulf and Iranian officials were expected to meet in Oman to discuss maritime security.

Oil prices were on course to finish the week above $100 a barrel for the first time in nearly four months as escalating conflict in the Middle East raised concerns about crude supply and shipping security. Brent crude briefly reached $109 a barrel and was trading around $105 later on Friday, while West Texas Intermediate fell below its earlier gains to approximately $100.50. Earlier figures cited Brent at $107.90 and WTI at $102.50. The immediate catalyst was the reported seizure of Mokha, a strategically important Yemeni port city near the Bab Al Mandeb Strait, by Houthi rebels. The location is significant because the strait is a major route for oil shipments, including Saudi exports to Asian markets. Analysts warned that expanded Houthi control could further disrupt Red Sea shipping and tighten global oil supplies. Shipping activity has also fallen sharply through the Strait of Hormuz amid continuing US-Iran attacks on oil tankers. Kpler data showed that only seven vessels crossed the strait on Thursday, compared with 18 on Tuesday. Before the conflict began in February, more than 100 vessels reportedly used the route daily, carrying about 20 percent of global crude and liquefied natural gas supplies. Traffic through Bab Al Mandeb also declined to 27 vessels from 32 the previous day. Analysts said the market’s focus has shifted from whether Brent can exceed $100 to whether prices can remain below $120. Brent previously reached $126.41 on April 30, its highest level in four years. Saudi production has also fallen because both its Gulf and Red Sea export routes face constraints, adding further upward pressure to prices.

Former US special envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking says Washington needs to increase its diplomatic and political engagement as Houthi forces expand their control over strategically important parts of Yemen. Speaking at a Middle East Institute webinar, Lenderking argued that the Houthis require stronger political and, ultimately, military pressure from regional and international actors. The Houthis have reportedly seized Yemen’s entire western coast, including Mokha port and the island of Perim, giving them influence over the Bab Al Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Lenderking warned that control of the strait could benefit Iran by enabling further disruption of regional shipping and supply routes. He said the developments should concern not only Saudi Arabia but also the United States. Saudi Arabia, which led a Gulf coalition against the Houthis beginning in 2015, has exchanged strikes with the group following its territorial advances. Riyadh also announced the closure of its East-West oil pipeline after what it described as multiple unattributed strikes. Lenderking criticized the Trump administration for taking a largely hands-off diplomatic approach to Yemen, arguing that the conflict could directly threaten US and regional interests. Yemen has been embroiled in war since the Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014. Although a 2022 truce has mostly held, the group has continued attacks on international shipping, prompting a nearly two-month US bombing campaign against Houthi targets last year. Middle East Institute analyst F Gregory Gause cautioned that air strikes alone are unlikely to defeat the Houthis. He said the group’s relationship with Iran is central and that pressure on Tehran may be necessary to influence Houthi behavior. Gause identified Taiz as a possible next target and suggested that coordinated US and Saudi support for Yemeni government forces could slow further expansion. Lenderking called for a unified Gulf strategy and immediate diplomatic action.

The supplied excerpt reports that Iran has publicly expressed support for Houthi rebels conducting an aggressive military offensive along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. According to the article’s opening, the Houthis are attempting to take control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategically important maritime passage connected to Saudi Arabia’s oil exports. The development places Iran, the Houthi movement, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and the broader Red Sea region within the same geopolitical and security context. The excerpt frames the Houthi advance as a significant regional development because of the economic and strategic importance of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Control of the waterway could affect maritime traffic and the movement of energy supplies, particularly Saudi oil exports. Iran’s stated support for the rebels also suggests a widening confrontation involving regional and international rivals, reflected in the headline’s reference to U.S. and Israeli “oppression.” However, the provided material ends after the article’s opening paragraph and does not include further details about Iran’s statement, the military situation, the response of Yemen’s government, Saudi Arabia, the United States, or Israel. It also does not provide casualty figures, territorial changes, diplomatic reactions, or confirmation of whether the Houthis succeeded in capturing the strait. Therefore, this summary is limited to the facts contained in the supplied excerpt rather than the full Washington Post article.