Houthis seize key Yemen port, raising Red Sea shipping fears

By Aurax Radio | September 11, 2026 | 2 min read

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have captured the strategic Yemeni port city of Mokha, intensifying fighting in a country divided by a decade-long civil war. The advance brings the group closer to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major shipping route, as the wider conflict involving Iran, the United States and regional powers threatens to disrupt global trade and energy supplies.

Geographic map of the southern Arabian Peninsula and Horn of Africa featuring Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Eritrea, Djibouti, and Ethiopia. The bodies of water—the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Arabian Sea—are labeled in blue. A prominent red oval outlines the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, situated between Yemen and Djibouti. Major regional cities, including Sanaa, Aden, Asmara, and Muscat, are marked with black dots.

Map showing the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa, with a red oval highlighting the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden near Yemen.

The Houthis took control of Mokha on Thursday, Sept. 10, after fighting with forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government, according to The Associated Press. The capture gives the rebels a strategically important position on the Red Sea coast, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The waterway is a key passage for commercial vessels traveling between Asia and Europe through the Suez Canal. The Houthis have also claimed advances in nearby areas, including Hays and the Khalid ibn al-Walid military base, as their campaign against government forces intensifies.

The takeover marks the Houthis’ most significant territorial gain since a 2022 ceasefire reduced major fighting in Yemen. The group has expanded its influence across western Yemen while the internationally recognized government, backed by Saudi Arabia, has struggled with internal divisions and military pressure. Reuters reported that Iranian weapons and military advice helped support the offensive, though Iran’s role in directing the Houthis remains contested. The rebels have long received Iranian backing, but they maintain their own military and political leadership. The seizure of Mokha also gives the group greater access to coastal areas near the Bab el-Mandeb, raising concerns about possible attacks on shipping and further pressure on Saudi Arabia, which supports the Yemeni government.

The developments come as Iran and the United States remain locked in a broader conflict that has already disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported that only seven vessels passed through Hormuz on Sept. 10, compared with a recent 10-day average of 15 and a prewar daily average of about 125. The Strait of Hormuz is a major route for oil and gas shipments from the Persian Gulf, while Bab el-Mandeb is a crucial link between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Disruptions in either waterway can force ships to take longer routes, increasing transportation costs and putting pressure on energy markets. Oil prices rose sharply as the Houthis captured Mokha, adding to concerns about the economic impact of the widening regional conflict.

Sources: The Associated Press, Reuters, NPR, CNBC, Al Jazeera and Yahoo News.

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