Houthi rebels seize control of Yemen's entire Red Sea coastline

On Friday, September 11, 2026, Houthi rebels in Yemen consolidated their control over the country's entire Red Sea coastline, including the strategically critical Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Following an 18-hour offensive, the rebels captured the city of Mocha, the town of Dhubab, and the islands of Mayyun (Perim) and the Hanish archipelago. Government officials confirmed that their forces retreated from these areas, leaving the Houthi fighters in control of the vital maritime passage that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

This rapid escalation follows the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to regional conflict, which forced Saudi Arabia to redirect its oil exports through the Red Sea. The control of these chokepoints significantly threatens global energy supplies and maritime trade between Europe and Asia. While the Saudi-backed internationally recognized government lost significant ground, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree promised that navigation through the strait would remain safe.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are underway to address the regional instability. Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers held talks on Thursday to discuss the escalation of tensions, though specific details regarding the military situation in Yemen were not explicitly disclosed in official statements. Iranian official Mohammad Reza Aref welcomed the Houthi advances as a victory for the Yemeni people.