Houthis eye 'full control' of Bab el-Mandeb, as Saudi-backed forces reel from offensive
Houthis eye 'full control' of Bab el-Mandeb, as Saudi-backed forces reel from offensive Submitted by Sean Mathews on Thu, 09/10/2026 - 20:36 The Houthis’ interests converge with Iran’s strategic aims Houthi fighters gesture as they celebrate in front of the Security Directorate building in Hays, Yemen, in this screengrab taken from social media video released on 10 September 2026 (Social…
Houthi fighters celebrate their rapid advance along Yemen's Red Sea coast, positioning themselves to control the Bab el-Mandeb choke point and bolster Iran's leverage against the US, according to experts. Corey Ranslem, CEO of maritime security group Dryad Global, stated that controlling the Bab el-Mandeb would be easier for the Houthis than for Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, as the US lacks significant military assets in the region.
After days of intense fighting in the Tihama plain, the Houthis have seized the historic Red Sea port city of Mocha and deployed troops on the Hanish Islands, situate in the middle of the Red Sea across from Eritrea. They are also advancing towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the island of Perim. The Houthis' swift progress has raised questions about the coordination of Saudi-backed forces in Yemen, as the UAE-Saudi talks about potential military escalation remain at an impasse.
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