Yemen’s Houthi movement has expanded its control along the country’s western coastline, capturing the strategic port city of Mocha and advancing towards key islands near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The group – formally known as Ansar Allah – has also claimed control of Perim Island and the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands, strengthening its position around one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
The advances have increased pressure on Saudi Arabia, with the Houthis claiming attacks against Saudi military targets and threatening continued operations while accusing Riyadh of aggression. The developments come amid wider regional tensions affecting energy routes, including disruptions to Saudi oil infrastructure.
The Saudi-backed Yemeni government has vowed to continue fighting, while the United States faces pressure to support regional partners while avoiding deeper military involvement in Yemen.
The renewed fighting risks worsening Yemen’s longstanding humanitarian crisis. In 2026, an estimated 22.3 million people require humanitarian assistance, including 5.2 million internally displaced people, while 18.3 million face acute food insecurity. The latest escalation has already displaced more than 100,000 people, adding further pressure to one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies.
ℹ️ FRANCE24, Al Jazeera
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