Yemen’s Houthi rebels have solidified their control over key islands and coastal areas along the southern Red Sea, including the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, intensifying the conflict with the Saudi-backed internationally recognized government. The developments mark a significant escalation in Yemen’s protracted civil war, raising concerns over global shipping routes and energy supplies.
Houthi forces recently captured the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands, located about 160 kilometers north of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, after government-aligned forces withdrew. This followed the rebels’ earlier seizure of the port city of Mokha on the Yemeni mainland and Mayun Island inside the strait. The rebels now hold positions within close proximity—approximately 32 kilometers—of the U.S. military base in Djibouti, situated across the strait. The advances came with limited initial resistance, but government and Saudi-backed forces attempted to regroup over the weekend and launched airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in Mokha, Dhubab, and Taiz province.
These territorial gains enhance the Houthis' ability to threaten Saudi crude oil shipments through the Red Sea, a critical alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz—where Iran has frequently targeted shipping. The rebels have imposed a “maritime blockade” on Saudi Arabia and carried out drone and missile attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure and military bases near the Yemen border. Saudi air defenses sounded alerts in cities such as Abha and Khamis Mushait amid warnings of potential incoming attacks, and two civilians were reported injured by a projectile near the Red Sea coast.
The fighting has pushed Yemen back into widespread conflict after a three-year truce. The United Nations estimates that the recent clashes have displaced over 80,000 Yemenis, exacerbating humanitarian concerns in the already impoverished country, which has endured more than a decade of war that has claimed roughly 150,000 lives.
The Houthi advances have reportedly halted near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with the rebels also launching an offensive eastwards to encircle the city of Taiz. The Yemeni government’s forces control parts of southern Yemen, including Aden, but their coastal militias suffered heavy losses and showed signs of fragmentation during the Houthi push. An official from the government’s presidential council, Rashad al-Alimi, characterized the setback as temporary and reaffirmed their commitment to reclaiming all national territories.
Observers note the government faces significant challenges in uniting its factions, with some analysts describing the situation as an uphill battle amid declining morale. The Houthis, by contrast, have expressed confidence in their campaign, which experts say is coordinated with Iranian support. Reports indicate that Iran has provided military commanders to assist the Houthis, enhancing Tehran’s strategic leverage amid its broader tensions with the United States.
Saudi Arabia responded with a series of airstrikes against Houthi targets, employing F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets, according to rebel claims. The Houthis also took responsibility for attacks on Saudi airbases, emphasizing the intensifying nature of the conflict. In parallel, allied groups in Iraq have targeted Saudi energy infrastructure, including a pipeline from eastern oil fields to the Red Sea, which remains out of commission and risks reducing global oil supplies by up to 4 percent if not repaired.
The ongoing confrontation underscores the fragile security of a vital maritime corridor and highlights the wider geopolitical stakes involved, as Yemen’s conflict continues to reverberate across regional and global energy markets.