[REVISION HISTORY]

Houthi seizure of Al-Mokha and Bab al-Mandeb control

Updated 72 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-26 21:51 UTC → 2026-09-28 23:49 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Houthi offensive has intensified, with the group seizing thousands of square kilometers along the Red Sea coast and securing strategic islands, tightening their grip on the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. In a major military shift, Ansarullah forces seized control of the strategic coastal city of Al-Mokha, granting them command over the Bab al-Mandeb strait. This waterway serves as a critical alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. 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. Recent reports indicate the offensive culminated on September 10, 2026, with the group advancing roughly 115 km Hormuz and ~~capturing~~ accounts for approximately ~~5,400 square kilometers~~ 12% of territory. The Houthis have extended control to key islands, including Perim and the Hanish Islands, granting them physical dominance over the strait. There are reports that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps provided tactical guidance and intelligence during the operation. This escalation has impacted global ~~energy markets, with Brent crude prices rising above $105 per barrel following drone attacks on Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure.~~ trade. Addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly, Yemen’s Vice President of the Presidential Leadership Council, Abdullah Al-Alimi Bawazir, warned that Houthi activities pose a significant threat to the global economy. He stated the group is using maritime navigation as a ‘tool for blackmail,’ effectively taking the global economy hostage. Bawazir accused the Houthis of using humanitarian pauses to strengthen their military arsenal and urged the international community to prevent further Iranian technology transfers to the rebels. ~~Analysts now suggest the~~ Recent military developments show Houthi ~~militia~~ forces pushing toward the Kahboub Mountains in Taiz and Lahj to consolidate control over high ground overlooking the strait. While the group has ~~transitioned into a strategic tool for Iran, opening a second front~~ captured key islands including Perim, Mayun, and the Hanish Islands, recent attempts to expand their territory have met resistance. In the Lahj Governorate, Al-Amaliqa Forces and the Second Shield of the Nation Brigade, supported by local Al-Sabihah tribes, reportedly repelled large-scale Houthi assaults in ~~regional conflicts.~~ the Al-Muhawala and Al-Aghbara districts. These clashes resulted in significant Houthi casualties, with military officials stating that defensive lines remained intact following airstrikes on rebel positions.

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