Houthis Seize Key Yemen Ports and Island, Threatening Red Sea Shipping and Global Energy Flows
Iran-backed Houthi rebels have captured the port city of Mocha and Perim Island in Yemen, escalating tensions in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The advance has driven Brent crude prices above $105 a barrel, forced Saudi Arabia to shut down its East-West oil pipeline, and displaced tens of thousands amid warnings from UN officials of a new dangerous phase in the conflict.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels have seized control of the strategic Yemeni port city of Mocha and the volcanic island of Perim (also known as Mayun) in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This military advance places the Houthis in command of key approaches to one of the world’s most vital shipping chokepoints, threatening global energy flows and regional stability.
The capture of these locations occurred on Thursday, with Houthi forces taking Mocha and subsequently securing Perim Island. The loss of these territories endangers the Red Sea shipping route, which Saudi Arabia relies upon after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed due to the ongoing US-Iran conflict. In response to drone attacks attributed to Iraq, Saudi Arabia shut down its East-West oil pipeline (Petroline) as a precautionary measure.
The escalation has had immediate impacts on global markets. Brent crude prices jumped above US$105 a barrel, while the U.S. national average price of diesel surpassed $6 a gallon for the first time. According to the United Nations, at least 46,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since fighting escalated last week.
Yemeni government military sources reported that the Houthi advance came with direct guidance from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps. However, the Houthis have declared their operations defensive, stating that Red Sea navigation remains safe for all shipping companies except those operating Saudi vessels. They previously declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in July.
UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg warned that the international community must act to address "a new and more dangerous phase" in the Yemen war. Western diplomats share concerns that the internationally recognized government's capital, Aden, could also fall. Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sought assistance from U.S. President Donald Trump, but Washington declined direct military action, offering only intelligence sharing and targeting support.
Shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait had already fallen by about 60 per cent since late 2023. Although activity increased earlier this year, renewed Houthi threats have curtailed traffic again. The strait is critical for global trade, with approximately 12 per cent of the world's goods shipped through it annually.