Ansarullah forces seize control of Bab al-Mandeb strait

Ansarullah forces in Yemen have seized control of the strategic coastal city of Al-Mokha, a move that grants them command over the Bab al-Mandeb strait. This waterway serves as a critical alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz for oil shipping.

Following the offensive, Ansarullah officials stated that while most ship passages will continue, certain vessels designated by the Ministry of Defense will be barred from the strait until specific demands and sieges are lifted. The shift in control has impacted global energy markets, with oil prices reportedly jumping to approximately $110 per barrel following the developments.

The military advancement follows the collapse of a 2022 UN-negotiated ceasefire, which reportedly ended after Saudi Arabian airstrikes targeted Sanaa in July 2026. The offensive in southwestern Yemen challenges the authority of the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) and threatens Saudi oil vessels utilizing the East-West pipeline near the Red Sea.