Houthis Push for Bab al-Mandab Heights as Trump Scraps Last-Minute US Strikes
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Sep 21
Houthis Push for Bab al-Mandab Heights as Trump Scraps Last-Minute US Strikes
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Sep 21
Summary
Houthi fighters are advancing on mountain positions in Taiz that could sever Yemen’s Red Sea coast from Saudi-backed forces after Trump halted planned US airstrikes as bombs were reportedly being loaded.
Those heights would help secure Houthi rear areas near the Bab al-Mandab strait, open new fronts toward Aden and deepen the group’s grip after it already captured much of the Red Sea coastline, including Mocha.
125,000 people have been displaced since the start of September, the UN says, with Taiz city alone taking in up to 86,000 as fighting intensifies around Al-Wazi’iyah and Ras al-Ara.
Saudi Arabia has launched hundreds of strikes on Houthi positions and repeatedly pressed Washington to intervene, but Trump again withheld a direct military commitment despite appeals from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Yemen’s president.
The renewed Yemen front threatens an oil route Saudi Arabia uses to bypass Hormuz and adds to doubts in the Gulf over US security guarantees as Trump tries to avoid a wider war before midterm elections.
As Houthis seize strategic Red Sea islands, could their tightening grip on the Bab al-Mandeb strait permanently cripple global maritime trade?
With the 2022 truce shattered, will escalating Houthi missile strikes completely unravel the fragile Saudi-Iranian diplomatic rapprochement?
Beyond territorial gains, is the Houthi offensive a calculated move to weaponize the worsening humanitarian crisis against the international community?
The 2026 Bab el-Mandeb Crisis: Houthi Seizure, Global Oil Shock, and the Red Sea Chokepoint’s Humanitarian Fallout
Overview
In September 2026, the Iran-backed Houthis seized the key Red Sea port of Mocha, forcing government forces to abandon Perim Island and giving the Houthis direct control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This triggered a sharp rise in global oil prices and forced shipping companies to reroute vessels around Africa, increasing costs and delays. The fractured anti-Houthi coalition and abandoned military hardware made the Houthi advance easier, while the resulting conflict displaced over 112,000 Yemenis, many fleeing to Djibouti. As naval forces shifted north, a security vacuum off East Africa led to a major resurgence of Somali piracy, further driving up global shipping and insurance costs.