Houthis seize Red Sea island and Mocha port, raising stakes for Gulf oil routes

Houthi forces have captured the Red Sea port of Mocha (Mokha) and the small island of Mayun (Perim) at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, officials and multiple news outlets reported on 10–11 September 2026. The advances bring the Iran-aligned group closer to the narrow Bab al‑Mandeb chokepoint and have already prompted Saudi precautionary steps and market jitters over energy supplies.

What reportedly happened

Multiple regional and international outlets reported that Houthi fighters seized Mocha, a coastal city in Taiz province, after several days of heavy fighting with Saudi-backed pro-government forces. Witnesses and pro-government military sources described a sudden Houthi advance that prompted civilian flight eastward toward Aden. Houthi-run media said clashes on the western coast had ceased after the expulsion of “Saudi enemy mobilisations,” though an independent confirmation of all territorial claims was not available in the sources.

Separately, reporting from international agencies and regional outlets said the Houthis also took Mayun (also called Perim), a volcanic island that sits inside the 28‑kilometre‑wide Bab al‑Mandeb Strait. A senior official with Yemen’s internationally recognised government and a Houthi official—both quoted anonymously by international agencies—confirmed the island’s capture, according to the coverage.

Immediate regional reactions and measures

Saudi authorities announced the temporary shutdown of a major cross‑country crude pipeline—identified in reporting as the East‑West pipeline—after it was attacked by drones. The Saudi Ministry of Energy described the pipeline closure as a precautionary measure. Saudi officials blamed drone strikes originating from Iraq for the pipeline attack; Iraqi authorities said they would investigate, according to reporting.

Houthi statements, carried on their channels, said they would not target non‑Saudi commercial shipping but reiterated an embargo on Saudi vessels. Houthi spokesmen and allied media also framed the advances as part of a broader escalation against Saudi operations and as retaliation for previous strikes and blockades affecting Houthi‑held areas.

Why this matters to energy and shipping

The Bab al‑Mandeb links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is a critical artery for trade between Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal. Sources in the evidence packet note that Saudi Arabia has shifted a growing share of its exports through the Red Sea as the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted in the wider Iran‑centred conflict. Control of islands and coastal approaches near Bab al‑Mandeb gives armed actors the potential to threaten or interdict traffic through that narrow channel.

Analysts quoted in the coverage said the Houthi advances have heightened fears that Iran and affiliated groups could exert leverage over both major chokepoints on opposite sides of the Arabian Peninsula—the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al‑Mandeb. Market response was immediate: crude oil prices rose above $100 a barrel in the days of reporting, reflecting supply‑risk concerns described in multiple reports.

Military dynamics and claims

Reports describe heavy exchanges across Yemen’s western coast, including air strikes by the Saudi‑led coalition and Houthi missile and drone attacks aimed at Saudi territory and energy facilities. Pro‑government commanders acknowledged strategic retreats in some western coastal areas, saying forces repositioned to safer locations. Houthi sources claimed gains along the coast and islands but also posted assurances that navigation remains “safe for all companies except for Saudi vessels,” a position the group has repeated in its public statements.

Observers cited in the reporting pointed to internal divisions among anti‑Houthi forces and changes in external backers—such as the United Arab Emirates’ reduced involvement—as factors that have weakened the cohesion of pro‑government military responses, though different sources emphasised different drivers.

Humanitarian and local impact

Witness accounts cited in the coverage described rapid civilian displacement from Mocha, with families fleeing toward Aden and scenes of injured people in the streets. The sources also warned of a broader humanitarian risk if the current fighting expands and the fragile truce that had limited large‑scale exchanges since 2022 collapses. One outlet cited historical estimates that Yemen’s conflict has cost hundreds of thousands of lives and brought millions to the verge of famine; those figures were given as context by the reporting rather than independently verified within the sources provided.

Unresolved questions and disagreement in sources

• Independent verification of which exact positions Houthi forces control around Mocha and Mayun at the time of reporting is limited in the sources. Houthi and government accounts differ on the pace and scope of advances.
• Houthi assurances that non‑Saudi commercial navigation is safe contrast with their stated embargo on Saudi vessels; how that will be implemented in practice—and how shipping companies or navies will respond—remains unclear.
• Responsibility for the pipeline drone attack was attributed by Saudi officials to drones from Iraq; Iraqi authorities said they would investigate. Independent confirmation of the attack’s origin was not provided in the packet.

Timeline (based on reporting)

1. Late July 2026: Houthis declared a Red Sea maritime blockade and launched attacks on Saudi shipping and infrastructure (context provided in reporting).
2. Early–mid September 2026: Intense fighting along Yemen’s west coast, culminating in Houthi claims and witness accounts of Mocha’s capture and reports confirming seizure of Mayun/Perim island (10–11 September, according to the coverage).
3. Following the island and port advances: Saudi Arabia reported a precautionary shutdown of the East‑West pipeline after a drone attack; global oil prices rose above $100 a barrel in market reactions cited in the reporting.

What this means for the United Arab Emirates and the region

For the UAE and other Gulf states, the developments complicate the security of oil export routes. Reporting noted that the UAE had previously reduced its military and financial footprint in parts of southern Yemen earlier in the year; analysts in the sources suggested that external partners’ shifting roles affect the balance of forces on the ground. The capture of coastal terrain and islands near Bab al‑Mandeb could force Gulf exporters to seek longer, costlier routes such as northward transport through the Suez Canal or pipelines through Egypt—moves already observed in some reporting.

Implications and next steps

As of the reports in this packet, the situation is fluid. Key near‑term developments to watch include independent confirmations of territorial control around Mocha and Mayun; actions by Saudi Arabia and any allied partners to reassert control or interdict Houthi movements; and commercial shipping responses, including insurance and routing decisions. The potential for broader escalation—militarily and economically—was highlighted across the coverage, but the sources also showed disagreement about the scale and permanence of Houthi control.

“The Houthis have completed their takeover of the Bab al-Mandab area and Mayyun Island,” a local official and other reporting asserted, while Houthi statements also denied threats to non‑Saudi shipping, illustrating the competing claims in the field.

Key takeaways

• Houthi forces reportedly seized Mocha and Mayun (Perim), bringing them closer to the Bab al‑Mandeb chokepoint.
• Saudi Arabia closed a major pipeline after a drone attack; officials blamed drones coming from Iraq and said the shutdown was a precautionary measure.
• The developments have contributed to higher oil prices and renewed concerns about shipping security through the Red Sea and Suez route.
• Sources disagree on exact control and intent: Houthis claim limited targeting rules for non‑Saudi shipping while government and independent observers warned of broader disruption risks.

Times of Middle East will continue monitoring official statements, commercial maritime notices and independent on‑the‑ground reporting to verify territorial control and to report any international military or diplomatic responses that follow.