Houthis take control of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, key shipping route

What the report says

Al Jazeera reported that Houthi forces have taken control of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline after a rapid advance against forces loyal to the internationally recognised Yemeni government. The reported push included the capture of the last coastal towns and movement onto islands in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a narrow waterway that links the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea.

According to the article, the advance strengthens the Iran-backed group’s hold over a crucial maritime corridor used as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. Bab al-Mandeb is a major passage for global energy and commercial shipping, and the area also sits near routes toward Saudi oil terminals. Al Jazeera cited government sources, witnesses and local reports describing Houthi fighters reaching al-Makha, Dhubab and Mayyun Island as government troops withdrew.

The report said the takeover could have wider implications for shipping security and energy markets, especially because traffic in the Red Sea had already fallen during earlier Houthi attacks on vessels. Al Jazeera noted that there had not been an official Houthi announcement confirming full control of the strait at the time of reporting.

The development matters because control of Bab al-Mandeb gives the Houthis added leverage over a chokepoint that affects trade between Asia, Europe and the Middle East. As general background, the strait is one of the world’s most sensitive maritime routes, so any change in control can raise concerns about shipping disruption and regional escalation.