Iran‑backed Houthi fighters took control of the Yemeni port city of Mocha on Thursday, pushing their positions toward the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait. The move opens a new front that could disrupt the vital Red Sea shipping lane just as Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on the route to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

Strategic implications for global trade

The Bab el‑Mandeb, only about 18 miles wide at its narrowest point, links the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea and, further north, the Suez Canal. It is a key artery for goods moving between Asia and Europe, as well as for energy shipments. With the Houthis now threatening control of the southern gateway, pressure mounts on both sides of the Arabian Peninsula.

“Now you have Iran on one side of the Arabian Peninsula controlling Hormuz, and now the Houthis controlling Bab el‑Mandeb on the other side of the peninsula,” said Hisham Al‑Omeisy, senior Yemen advisor at the European Institute of Peace. He warned that this dual pressure could drive oil and commodity prices up exponentially.

U.S. response and regional dialogue

A senior administration official told Fox News Digital that the United States remains focused on protecting core national security interests, including freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, while empowering regional partners to lead security efforts. The official added that the U.S. is in continuous dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen government regarding regional stability.

Recent developments on the ground

Yemeni government sources reported that the Houthis captured Mocha and reached the Hanish Islands, while Saudi‑backed Yemeni forces withdrew south toward Dhubab, a town directly opposite the strategic island of Perim. Control of Dhubab and Perim would give the Houthis a stronger foothold over the strait, according to Reuters.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that crude oil and petroleum liquids moving through Bab el‑Mandeb averaged 8.1 million barrels per day in the second quarter of 2026, up from 5.4 million barrels per day in the final quarter of 2025. At the same time, flows through the Strait of Hormuz fell from 21.6 million barrels per day to just 4.9 million, a shift the EIA attributes in part to Saudi Arabia rerouting crude through its East‑West pipeline to the Red Sea port of Yanbu.

Potential military ramifications

Al‑Omeisy warned that the Houthis could use captured military materiel—vehicles, drones, munitions—from abandoned government camps to strengthen their forces elsewhere. He noted that the Houthis have a history of exploiting divisions among their opponents and moving quickly on the ground to establish a status quo while the international community debates intervention.

Saudi forces have launched at least 15 strikes against the Houthis between Sept. 3 and Sept. 7, the highest number since Riyadh resumed military engagement in July. In response, the Houthis carried out their largest wave of direct attacks on Saudi territory since March 2022, firing dozens of drones and ballistic missiles toward Abha, Jizan, Najran and Khamis Mushait, injuring 73 people.

Broader regional context

The escalation comes as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey test a new joint defense agreement signed in Mecca last month. The pact states that an armed attack against one member will be considered an attack against all three. Pakistan, however, said no military response under the agreement is currently under discussion.

Despite the heightened tension, the Houthis have claimed that international navigation through the Red Sea and Bab el‑Mandeb remains safe, while maintaining their blockade of Saudi vessels.

Market reaction

Oil markets responded quickly. Brent crude rose more than 5 % to $106.60 a barrel, and U.S. crude climbed above $100 a barrel for the first time since May, reflecting investor concerns over the widening regional threat.

The situation underscores the strategic importance of the Red Sea corridor and the need for continued diplomatic and security coordination among the United States, regional allies, and Gulf partners to safeguard global trade routes.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.