76,000 Displaced as Houthis Seize Yemen Red Sea Coast in One of World's Most Dangerous Countries
Iran-backed Houthi rebels have seized control of Yemen's Red Sea coastline including the strategic Mayun Island in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in one of the world's most dangerous countries, displacing at least 76,000 people and raising risks to global oil shipping and energy prices. [5]
Houthi Seizure of Red Sea Coast and Mayun Island
Houthi forces captured the port city of Mocha and advanced to take Mayun Island, also known as Perim, giving them a foothold to potentially disrupt maritime traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. [3] The takeover was confirmed on Friday by a senior military official of Yemen’s internationally recognised government and a Houthi official. [3] Mayun Island is a 13sq km volcanic island in the heart of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the narrow southern corridor at the entrance to the Red Sea. [3] In 2021, the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis said it had a presence on the island, after reports emerged of a UAE-linked airbase being built there. [3] The UAE ended its involvement in the Yemen conflict at the end of last year and withdrew troops, but the status of the airbase on Mayun Island is unclear. [3] By controlling the island, which splits Bab al-Mandeb into two channels, the Houthis now have a physical outpost in the strait. [3] The Houthis also control the areas surrounding the strait, including the island of Hanish and the entire Red Sea coastline of Yemen. [3] Houthi forces seized the port city of Mocha on Thursday. [3] Analysts say the seizure represents a significant military advance that, if the Houthis can consolidate, could reshape their conflict with Saudi-backed forces in Yemen while benefiting their backer Iran in its broader regional struggle. [3]
Mass Displacement in One of the World's Most Dangerous Countries
At least 76,000 people have fled their homes since July, with the number nearly doubling in days; many families fled at night with no safe destinations, and Taiz province saw around 50,000 displaced. [5] The figure has nearly doubled in a short time, having stood at 46,000 just days earlier. [5] Whole families are on the run, often at night, and they have no safe places to go, according to IOM Director General Amy Pope. [5] Displaced people are seeking shelter in the Dar Saad district of Aden. [5] The background is a dramatic military offensive in which Houthi rebels quickly captured several cities along the Red Sea coast from forces loyal to the Saudi- and US-supported Yemeni government. [5] Among the cities that have fallen is the strategically important port city of Mokha. [5] Descriptions from the refugees are dramatic. A man named Mohamed, 46, who fled Mokha in the middle of the night, described an “apocalyptic” atmosphere in the city. [5] Another person who fled the al-Khawkha district said they set out in panic on a motorcycle without knowing where they were going, the roads suddenly became extremely crowded, and the motorcycle overturned, injuring the man, his wife and children. [5] Taiz is the hardest-hit province, with around 50,000 people displaced. [5] Many of those now on the run have been displaced before, some several times, through twelve years of conflict. [5]
Impact on Global Shipping and Oil Markets
The advance allows Houthis to use shorter-range weapons against ships and benefits Iran by adding leverage over a key chokepoint while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. [3] The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is crucial to global shipping as it is the southern entrance to the Red Sea with the Suez Canal at its northern end. [3] The strait has become even more important to shipping since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf on the other side of the Arabian Peninsula. [3] The Houthis have said that general shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb is safe from attacks, except for vessels linked to Saudi Arabia, which they will blockade. [3] Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group would continue a “siege for siege” and “escalation for escalation” strategy against Saudi Arabia. [3] However, the Houthis have previously targeted vessels with no links to Saudi Arabia in regional waters. [3] Between November 2023 and mid-2025, the Houthis attacked more than 100 commercial ships in the Red Sea. [3] If the Houthis again expand their targets beyond Saudi vessels, their new positions could make it easier for them to strike passing ships. [3] The Houthis would be able to use shorter-range missiles rather than long-range artillery to attack the ships. [3] Any further disruption on Red Sea shipping would have immense repercussions on an already strained global energy market. [3] Oil prices have risen above $100 per barrel from around $80, with fears that further disruption could affect 7% of global petroleum supply and 12% of world trade. [5] The situation is especially critical because Iran has already disrupted the Strait of Hormuz on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula. [5] Saudi Arabia has therefore been dependent on exporting oil via the Red Sea. [5]
Reactions from US and Saudi Arabia
US President Donald Trump said the Houthis contacted the US asking not to intervene, stated he would not commit direct military involvement for now but would provide intelligence, and described Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a good friend. [3] Speaking to reporters during his visit to Ireland, Trump said the Houthis had asked the US not to intervene in the conflict against Yemen’s internationally recognised government. [3] He said the Houthis “called us” and “They don’t want to fight us, they let us know.” [3] Trump added that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is a “good friend” and “everything will work out fine.” [3] According to reports, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman called Trump and requested US military assistance against the Houthis. [5] He was told that Washington would not intervene directly for the time being but would assist with intelligence. [5] Trump said of the conversation with the crown prince that he is a good friend of mine and everything is going to go fine and great. [5]
Broader Context of Yemen Conflict
The conflict in Yemen has roots back to 2014, when the Houthis took control of the capital Sanaa. [5] A Saudi-led military intervention has since failed to drive them out. [5] The war has claimed an estimated 150,000 lives and brought Yemen to the brink of famine before a ceasefire in 2022. [5] UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg warned the Security Council on Thursday that the country is facing “a new and dangerous phase of the war.” [5] The Houthis are in a strong position to hold the island in the short term due to their control of surrounding areas. [3] However, the island itself is difficult to defend against an amphibious assault in the long run. [3] The key will be to hold the coastal areas of the mainland and its hinterland. [3]
What to watch next: Whether Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces attempt to recapture Mayun Island and how much effort they put into it, as well as any further moves by the Houthis to expand targets beyond Saudi-linked vessels in the strait. [3]
