Yemen Houthis Seize Full Control of Bab el-Mandeb Strait Coast in Most Dangerous Countries
Yemen's Houthis seized control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait coastline and islands last week after a rapid advance in the Tihama region, escalating the renewed civil war that has seen resumed fighting along multiple front lines and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, making the country one of the most dangerous countries in the region.
Houthi Advance Secures Bab el-Mandeb Strait
A lightning advance by Yemen's Houthi group has brought the vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait under its control. [1] Last week the Houthis rapidly advanced into the southern Tihama, seizing first the port city of Mocha and then the rest of the Red Sea coastline and islands including Perim, Greater Hanish and Lesser Hanish. [1] [2] Those territorial gains make it easier to block shipping on the Red Sea, a key route for Saudi oil exports to Asia, and set up a potential launchpad for a new ground thrust towards Aden. [1] The Houthis captured Mocha, advanced along the coast, and took control of Perim, the island located inside the Bab al-Mandab Strait. [3] They also seized Greater Hanish and Lesser Hanish islands, strengthening their hold around one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints. [3] Traffic through the strait continues, and the Houthis do not currently control the passage in a way that would allow them to halt all shipping. [3] Their new positions do, however, improve their ability to monitor maritime traffic and selectively threaten vessels they choose to target. [3] Saudi Arabia has conducted airstrikes in support of government-aligned forces. [1]
Collapse of Ceasefire and Renewed Front-Line Fighting
The ceasefire collapsed over recent weeks and fighting resumed along the old front lines: Marib and Jawf governorates in the north, the city of Taiz in the southern highlands, Dhale in central Yemen and the Red Sea coastal strip known as the Tihama. [1] [2] Saudi Arabia has conducted airstrikes in support of government-aligned forces. [1] The Iran-backed Houthis’ lightning advance in Yemen along the Red Sea and their attacks on Saudi Arabia, along with attacks that damaged Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline, have extended Tehran’s reach in the war. [4] Officials in the Saudi-backed government that controls southern Yemen have acknowledged that their forces and those of Saudi Arabia were conducting air strikes on Houthi positions, though Riyadh has not confirmed them. [4]
Houthi Missile and Drone Capabilities
The group’s ability to strike at distance with growing accuracy is why it now matters far beyond Yemen. [1] Houthi ballistic missiles have reached as far as Israel, more than 1,000 miles (1,800 km) away, and one struck the perimeter of Israel’s main airport in 2025. [1] [2] They have struck more frequently in Saudi Arabia, targeting cities and infrastructure. [1] Houthi missiles have been fired at ships in the Red Sea, halting traffic in the waterway. [1] Houthi drones have also struck repeatedly at Saudi targets and are now increasingly deployed on the battlefield — a big change from the last bout of civil-war fighting before the 2022 ceasefire. [1] The Houthis fired missiles and drones at Israel and international shipping in the Red Sea during Israel’s war in Gaza from 2023-25 in what they said was solidarity with Palestinians. [1] With their closest ally Iran under attack by the United States since February 28, the Houthis have again been firing on Red Sea shipping as well as energy facilities inside Saudi Arabia. [1] Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had launched fresh drone and missile strikes on the major Saudi Red Sea oil port of Yanbu and at a southern Saudi airbase at Khamis Mushait. [4]
Equipment, Tactics and Fighter Numbers
The Houthis have posted videos online since the start of September that show some of the military equipment they are using. [1] Videos show drones dropping different types of mortar and other bombs onto vehicles and opposition fighters, a rocket or missile launching, and precise munition hits on buildings and trucks at a camp, filmed by a high-resolution drone. [1] Other videos show Houthi forces on the ground including in pick-up trucks, some mounted with weapons, and on foot. [1] Many fighters are shown in Arab robes rather than uniforms and carrying assault rifles. [1] One video also showed a small group of fighters in camouflage uniforms. [1] In some videos, fighters are shown with light and heavy machine guns and scoped rifles. [1] Videos showed them parading equipment captured from the Saudi-backed forces in the Tihama including armoured and combat vehicles, a tank, an artillery gun, satellite dish, small arms and a drone jamming device. [1] [2] The UN panel of experts’ report described Houthi military tactics as being focused on infiltration, drone attacks and shelling along front lines, and the laying of mines and other explosive devices. [1] They assessed that the Houthis had 350,000 fighters, partly through the recruitment of fighters under 18. [1]
Arms Smuggling, Iranian Support and Military Evolution
A United Nations panel of experts’ report in 2025 said the Houthis had developed missile and drone technologies through both technical assistance and domestic manufacturing. [1] It found there had been widespread arms smuggling despite a UN arms embargo, including overland shipments across the Omani border as well as seaborne smuggling. [1] Items seized included drone control devices, equipment to receive ships’ navigational data, drone engines and missile components. [1] A 2023 UN report noted seizures of entire drones, ballistic missile components such as chemical precursors and Iranian-made anti-tank missiles. [1] Iranian sources have said Tehran has supplied its Houthi allies with both weapons and experts. [1] However, Iran has officially denied arming the Houthis in violation of the UN arms embargo. [1] A 2025 assessment by the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank found that while the Houthis had made advances in domestic arms production, they remained dependent on Iran for key technologies and advanced capabilities. [1] Training by Iran and Hezbollah has been critical for the Houthis, according to Yemen analysts. [1] Baraa Shiban, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, said such training had begun soon after the Arab Spring and had helped the Houthis transform from a militia to a more organised military force with changes to their structure and movements. [1] Hezbollah missile and drone operatives were present with the Houthis in 2025, the UN experts said. [1] Iranian Qods Force general Abdolreza Shahlaei was also present in Yemen for some time working with the Houthis, the experts said. [1]
Impact on Regional Oil Routes and Global Supplies in Most Dangerous Countries
The Houthis on Wednesday released battlefield video of fighters seizing armoured vehicles from Saudi-backed forces. [4] The video also showed warplanes flying overhead and huge explosions billowing into the sky from desert dunes. [4] The extension of the war into Yemen threatens to worsen the global energy-supply shortage caused by the war, which has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. [4] The strait carried about 20% of global oil and LNG before the conflict. [4] Traders say a prolonged closure of Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline could cut off as much as 4% of global oil supply. [4] The price of Brent crude hovered around $108 a barrel on Wednesday, close to its highest levels since May. [4] The politically sensitive average retail price of diesel fuel in the U.S. hit another all-time high, above $6.30 a gallon for the first time. [4] Oil prices fell in early Thursday trade as reports of Saudi Arabia offering extra crude cargoes through Oman reduced fears of supply disruptions in the Middle East. [4] Brent crude futures dropped $1.24, or 1.2%, to $104.59 a barrel by 0049 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were down $1.14, or 1.1%, at $101.29. [4] The United States tightened its travel warning for Saudi Arabia, banning government employees from travelling within 20 miles (30 km) of the Yemen border. [4]
What to watch next: Axios reported late on Wednesday that Trump was expected to meet Gulf leaders on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday to discuss the next steps in the conflict. [4]
