Iran-backed Houthi forces have taken control of Yemen’s strategic port city of Mocha. They are now advancing toward positions overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This development opens a potentially perilous front for global trade by threatening the southern gateway to the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia has been increasingly reliant on this route as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently constrained.
This situation increases pressure on critical shipping lanes on both sides of the Arabian Peninsula, potentially disrupting oil and commercial traffic through a key global trade chokepoint. “Now you have Iran on one side of the Arabian Peninsula controlling Hormuz, and the Houthis controlling Bab el-Mandeb on the other,” said Hisham Al-Omeisy of the European Institute of Peace. This control could lead to significant increases in prices for oil and goods.
“The United States is focused on protecting our core national security interests such as ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea,” a senior administration official said. The U.S. is actively engaged in dialogue with both Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government to maintain regional stability.
Yemeni government sources reported that the Houthis have also reached the Hanish Islands. Saudi-backed Yemeni forces withdrew south toward Dhubab, a location critical for gaining a stronger hold over the strait.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, about 18 miles wide at its narrowest point, connects the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea. This route has gained increased importance, as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has diminished significantly. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, shipments through Bab el-Mandeb increased to 8.1 million barrels per day in the second quarter of 2026.
Al-Omeisy noted that the retreating government forces left valuable military equipment, which the Houthis could utilize elsewhere. Reuters reported that Iranian support has facilitated the Houthi advances, with Iran allegedly promising additional resources despite public denials of direct involvement.
The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) has described recent escalations between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces as the most serious since July. Fighting has spread across various regions, and control over Bab el-Mandeb is a primary objective for both sides.
Saudi Arabia has intensified its involvement, launching numerous strikes against the Houthis. The Houthis responded by launching attacks on Saudi territory, raising the potential for a wider conflict with implications for an existing defense agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey.
The international response is critical. Al-Omeisy emphasized the Houthis’ ability to exploit divisions among their opponents, moving quickly to establish control while international actors deliberate.
Oil markets reacted swiftly to these developments, with Brent crude prices surging above $106 per barrel. Widening regional threats continue to pose challenges to global stability and trade.
Reporter Efrat Lachter has more than 15 years of experience covering global conflicts and crises. She has documented major events across the globe and is a recognized journalist in her field.
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