Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Seize Key Red Sea Islands and Tighten Grip on Shipping Routes
- The capture of the Hanish archipelago follows the withdrawal of hundreds of government-allied forces from the islands, located 160 kilometers north of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to...
- The expanding Houthi control over the Red Sea threatens Saudi crude oil shipments that rely on the waterway to bypass the Persian Gulf.
- The renewed hostilities are pushing Yemen back into full-scale civil war following a three-year truce that had largely maintained quiet since 2022.
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Houthi Forces Seize Hanish Islands in Southern Red Sea
The capture of the Hanish archipelago follows the withdrawal of hundreds of government-allied forces from the islands, located 160 kilometers north of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to two government officials and one Houthi official speaking to the Associated Press.
This territorial gain builds on a series of rapid advances by the rebels. Last week, Houthi forces seized the mainland port city of Mokha and the island of Mayun, situated directly inside the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
According to reports, these positions place rebel fighters just 32 kilometers away from the United States military base in Djibouti on the opposite side of the strait. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait serves as a vital maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the open ocean, acting as a crucial shipping alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.
Impact on Saudi Oil Infrastructure and Regional Pipelines
The expanding Houthi control over the Red Sea threatens Saudi crude oil shipments that rely on the waterway to bypass the Persian Gulf. An attack last week, which Saudi Arabia blamed on drones launched by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, targeted the 1,200-kilometer East-West Pipeline.
Two regional officials briefed on the matter told the Associated Press that the vital pipeline, which can carry up to 7 million barrels of oil a day, will remain mostly out of service for three to five weeks while major pumping facilities and other damage are repaired.
In addition to maritime and pipeline disruptions, the Houthi movement claimed responsibility for launching dozens of missiles and drones, targeting a Saudi military air base in Khamis Mushait. The rebel group stated the attack hit aircraft hangars, radar systems, runways, and ammunition depots in retaliation for recent Saudi air strikes.
Civilian Toll and Renewed Civil War in Yemen
The renewed hostilities are pushing Yemen back into full-scale civil war following a three-year truce that had largely maintained quiet since 2022. While rebels advance along the coast, heavy fighting persists inland, particularly in the contested Taiz province.
Yemen’s Human Rights Ministry reported that approximately 150 civilians have been killed and over 200 wounded in fighting since September 3. This toll includes a pregnant woman killed in a Taiz village on September 12.
Thousands of families have fled their homes as entire villages empty out amid severe shortages of food and water, according to Khanzad Shah, acting head of the relief charity Islamic Relief. Meanwhile, Saudi-backed government forces attempted to regroup over the weekend, advancing toward the strategic town of Dhubab north of the strait.
Diplomatic Fallout and Postponed Regional Talks
The military escalation has disrupted regional diplomacy. Arab states called off a scheduled meeting with Iran that was planned in Oman.
Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi announced that the negotiations regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz were postponed in the interests of consensus. Iranian officials indicated the postponement occurred at the request of Saudi Arabia.