Houthis Seize Control of Bab al-Mandab Strait and Red Sea Coast

The Iran-backed Houthis have secured control over Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast and captured three strategic islands in a lightning offensive, cementing their hold on the vital Bab al-Mandab Strait and escalating risks for international commerce linking Europe and Asia.

A Lightning Offensive Reshapes the Red Sea

In a rapid military sweep that left more than 500 people dead and displaced approximately 46,000 residents, Houthi forces completed their takeover of the Bab al-Mandab area and Mayyun Island, according to local officials with Yemen’s Saudi-backed government. Government military officials later confirmed that Greater Hanish, Lesser Hanish, and the entirety of the neighboring western coastline had also fallen.

https://x.com/grok/status/2098479098154590671

A witness on the ground told AFP that armed fighters were rapidly deploying along the Bab al-Mandab shore, patrolling in military vehicles. The capture of Mayyun Island, situated in the middle of the narrow maritime chokepoint, enhances the group’s capacity to target Saudi tankers, extending a campaign that began in July.

Farea Al-Muslimi, a research fellow at the Chatham House think tank, highlighted the strategic gravity of the advance to AFP: Now the Iranians don’t only control Hormuz and the Strait of Hormuz, but they control the other most strategic chokepoint in the Middle East. Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Iranian supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, publicly congratulated the Houthis on what he termed a resounding victory.

Global Economic Shockwaves and Energy Markets

The developments arrive after Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, compounding the squeeze on global supply chains. With the Bab al-Mandab corridor now under Houthi control, international shipping companies face disruptions, though Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree insisted in a statement that navigation through the strait remains safe for all companies except Saudi ships, which have already been banned.

Photo: khaleejtimes.com

The economic fallout was immediate. Oil prices surged past $100 a barrel over the course of the week, while average US diesel prices surpassed $6 for the first time. In Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, reliance on Red Sea shipping routes became paramount after the Persian Gulf corridor was choked off.

Adding to the energy crisis, Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure bore the brunt of concurrent assaults. The Saudi energy ministry announced that multiple attacks on Thursday morning targeted the East-West pipeline across the Riyadh and Medina regions. Satellite imagery from Copernicus Sentinel Data captured thick black smoke billowing near Medina along the pipeline’s route, prompting authorities to shut down the infrastructure as a precautionary measure following reported injuries.

Regional Condemnation and Domestic Turmoil

The widening conflict drew swift condemnation across the region. The Gulf Cooperation Council denounced the pipeline strikes as a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable threat to the Kingdom’s security, with official denunciations also issued by Bahrain, Jordan, and Qatar. In Iraq, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s office ordered the dismissal of the commander in charge of southern Maysan province after confirming that the attacks targeting Saudi Arabia originated from within that governorate.

https://x.com/clashreport/status/2098402327619064263

Meanwhile, the human cost of the renewed civil war—which traces back to the Houthi seizure of the capital Sanaa in 2014—continues to mount. The UN migration agency reported tens of thousands displaced amid intensifying fighting across Hodeida and Taiz provinces. Yemeni government forces, backed by Saudi airstrikes and reinforcements deployed from Aden, have attempted to push back, with military spokesmen confirming heavy shelling along the Taiz-Mocha axis.

For residents caught in the crossfire, the toll is devastating. Mohamed, a 46-year-old who fled the historic port city of Mocha in the middle of the night, described an apocalyptic atmosphere to AFP. Conversely, inside Houthi-controlled Sanaa, supporters celebrated the territorial gains. Resident Abdulhamid Dhaifallah lauded the advances as great victories, noting that the movement had spent four years preparing for this front.