Houthis eye Yemen’s oil-rich east after seizing Red Sea coast

Live updates

1. 17d ago

   Houthis Seize Mokha Port as Saudi Arabia Shuts Down Oil Pipeline

   Houthi rebels seized the Red Sea port city of Mokha on September 10, 2026, following a counteroffensive using missiles and drones. Saudi Arabia has shut down a major oil pipeline due to attacks linked to the fighting. While Yemeni government forces have launched a counteroffensive to secure the Bab al-Mandab Strait and Red Sea shipping routes, their ability to sustain these gains remains uncertain. The Houthi territorial expansion is viewed as a potential strategy by Iran to increase global oil and gas prices to pressure the United States.

   Why it matters

   The Bab al-Mandab Strait is a vital waterway for global energy supplies. Control over this region allows the Houthis to implement naval blockades against Saudi shipping. This conflict represents a failure of Saudi Arabia's previous containment strategy in Yemen.

   What is confirmed

   • Houthi forces seized the port city of Mokha on September 10, 2026.
   • Yemeni government forces launched a counteroffensive to secure the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
   • Houthi missile strikes have targeted Saudi airports, including one at King Khalid International Airport.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Saudi Arabia shut down a major oil pipeline citing attacks amid fighting in Yemen.
   • Houthi gains are part of an Iranian strategy to drive up world oil and gas prices to pressure the United States.
   • Government forces suffered a major collapse on September 9, 2026, leaving heavy weapons behind.

   What to watch next

   • Confirmation of the current operational status of the Bab al-Mandab Strait
   • Outcome of the Yemeni government counteroffensive to retake coastal territory
   • US decision on whether to intervene in the widening conflict between Houthis and Saudi Arabia
   Sources used for this update (13)

   1. spectrumlocalnews.com — Saudi Arabia shuts down major oil pipeline, citing attacks amid fighting in Yemen
   2. www.the-messenger.com — Spanish government loses first of 2 Parliamentary votes to ratify emergency housing measures
   3. www.alestiklal.net — Houthis Advance Along Yemen’s Western Coast: Betrayal or a ...
   4. www.sunnafiles.com — How the Houthis Seized Yemen’s Red Sea Coast and Ignited a ...
   5. theprint.in — How Houthis trounced Saudi-backed Yemeni forces, took Red Sea ...
   6. www.nbcnews.com — Another Hormuz? What to know about the Houthi threat to the Red Sea
   7. www.dailymail.com — Saudi airport is hit by deadly missile day after Houthi attack killed 13 and injured hundreds - as Trump ....
   8. www.wionews.com — Yemeni government forces advance against Houthis to secure ...
   9. www.middleeasteye.net — Houthi strikes mark the end of Saudi Arabia's Yemen 'containment strategy'
   10. timesofindia.indiatimes.com — Saudi Arabia Turns To Iran Amid Houthi Strikes, Dealing Trump A Major Gulf Blow? - Times of India Videos
   11. aaronparnas.substack.com — NEWS: Trump Eyes White House Purge as Epstein Probes Loom, Press Secretary Exposed, Oregon Elementary School Shooting, and More
   12. www.aljazeera.com — Can Yemen’s government forces sustain their offensive against the Houthis?
   confidence 80%
2. 25d ago

   Houthis eye Yemen's oil-rich east after Red Sea coast seizure

   Houthi rebels are positioning themselves to control Yemen's oil-rich eastern regions after seizing the Red Sea coast. Saudi-backed Yemeni forces recently secured the port city of Mokha and claim to have controlled the Bab al-Mandab strait. The Houthi advances have raised concerns about potential disruptions to oil exports and global energy supplies. Brent crude is trading around $100 a barrel.

   Why it matters

   The conflict in Yemen has significant implications for global energy markets and regional stability. The Bab al-Mandab strait and the Strait of Hormuz are critical chokepoints for oil exports. The Houthi rebels' expansion threatens to disrupt these supplies, impacting the global economy.

   What is confirmed

   • Brent crude is trading around $100 a barrel
   • The Persian Gulf is a dominant global supplier of liquefied natural gas, urea, sulfur, and helium
   • The closure of the Strait of Hormuz would have significant economic damage beyond crude oil

   Still unconfirmed

   • Saudi Arabia is considering a broader offensive against Houthi coastal positions

   What to watch next

   • Houthi rebels' next moves in Yemen's eastern regions
   • Saudi Arabia's response to Houthi advances
   • Impact on global energy supplies and prices
   Sources used for this update (4)

   1. www.wral.com — Business News and Reporting Coverage, page 15 | WRAL
   2. sonar21.com — Sulfur and Urea: Their role in the global economy and who is hurt most by the Persian Gulf cutoff
   3. critiqueanddigest.substack.com — A World of Hurt - by Hussein Aboubakr Mansour
   4. historyda.substack.com — Historical Detective Agency Case File: The Case of the Dual Gates
   confidence 70%
3. 30d ago

   Pro-government forces reclaim Mokha port as Saudi Arabia weighs Houthi offensive

   Saudi-backed Yemeni forces have seized the port city of Mokha and claim to have secured the Bab al-Mandab strait through Operation Dawn of Yemen. These gains shift regional control away from Houthi rebels. However, Saudi Arabia is currently considering a broader offensive against Houthi coastal positions to protect oil exports. Brent crude is trading around $100 a barrel as markets react to the potential for further escalation and disruptions at both the Bab al-Mandeb and Hormuz checkpoints.

   Why it matters

   The Houthis, known as Ansar Allah, have governed northern and western Yemen since 2014. Their control of Red Sea shipping lanes creates a bottleneck for global energy supplies. Saudi Arabia and Iran back opposing sides in this conflict.

   What is confirmed

   • Saudi-backed Yemeni military forces claim to have secured the Bab al-Mandab strait.
   • Saudi Arabia is considering an offensive against Houthi coastal positions to safeguard oil exports.
   • Iran provides backing to the Houthi rebels.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Yemen's Armed Forces bombed Houthis in Sanaa and Saada.
   • Brent crude is trading around $100 a barrel.
   • Pro-government forces have reclaimed the port city of Mokha.

   What to watch next

   • Confirmation of Houthi withdrawal from Mokha
   • Official Saudi announcement regarding a coastal offensive
   • Changes in Brent crude pricing based on strait security
   Sources used for this update (5)

   1. defencesecurityasia.com — Saudi Arabia Weighs Houthi Offensive as Red Sea Threats Squeeze Oil Exports
   2. www.timesnownews.com — Yemen's Armed Forces Bomb Houthis in Sanaa and Saada, Raising ...
   3. timesofindia.indiatimes.com — Red Sea Strait: Bab al-Mandab showdown: Saudi-backed Yemen forces claim key Red Sea strait secured
   4. www.cnbc.com — Iran war: Yemen forces reclaim Red Sea port city of Mokha from Houthis
   5. hotair.com — The Dawn of Yemen – HotAir
   confidence 80%
4. 31d ago

   Iran-Backed Houthis Advance on Yemen Coast

   An Iran-backed military advance down Yemen's Red Sea coast by Houthi rebels has intensified global market concerns and placed renewed attention on shipping routes. The Zaydi revivalist organization, officially known as Ansar Allah, has maintained de facto governance over northern and western Yemen, including Sanaa, since taking the capital in 2014. The group's latest movements and previous attacks on Red Sea shipping threaten critical international trade lanes and energy shipments. Operating through the Supreme Political Council, the Houthis oppose the internationally recognized government in a conflict viewed as a front for regional proxy warfare.

   Why it matters

   Emerging in the 1990s and drawing leadership largely from the al-Houthi family, the paramilitary organization has built an administration in opposition to past and present Yemeni governments. Influenced by Hezbollah after adopting an official slogan against the United States, Israel, and the Jewish people, the movement aims to govern all of Yemen. International bodies have widely condemned the group for human rights abuses, including civilian targeting and the use of child soldiers, leading to terrorist designations by some countries.

   What is confirmed

   • The Houthis are officially known as Ansar Allah or Ansarullah.
   • The group is a Zaydi revivalist and Shia Islamist political and paramilitary organization that emerged from Yemen in the 1990s.
   • The Houthis are backed by Iran and considered part of the Iranian-led Axis of Resistance.
   • The Houthis have maintained de facto governance over significant portions of northern and western Yemen, including the capital Sanaa since 2014.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Global energy markets face immediate economic disruptions due to the rapid military advance down the coast.

   What to watch next

   • Developments regarding Houthi control over Yemen's oil-rich east
   • Global energy market reactions to Red Sea shipping disruptions
   Sources used for this update (5)

   1. www.bbc.com — Who are the Houthis in Yemen and what do they want?
   2. www.aljazeera.com — Houthis | Today's latest from Al Jazeera
   3. www.theguardian.com — Who are the Houthis – explained in 30 seconds - The Guardian
   4. en.wikipedia.org — Houthis - Wikipedia
   5. en.wikipedia.org — Houthi-controlled Yemen - Wikipedia
   confidence 100%
5. 33d ago

   Houthis seize Yemen's Red Sea coast, threaten Saudi oil exports

   The Houthi rebels have seized control of Yemen's Red Sea coast, including the port city of Mokha and strategic islands, in a 48-hour offensive aided by alleged Iranian advisers. This development has raised fresh risks to Saudi oil shipments and exposed divisions in pro-government forces. The Houthis have gained further leverage over shipping routes, with over a dozen countries depending on the Bab al-Mandab Strait for more than half of their maritime trade by value.

   Why it matters

   The Red Sea is a vital waterway for global trade, and the Houthi rebels' seizure of the coast has significant implications for the global economy. The conflict in Yemen has been ongoing, with the Houthis backed by Iran and the Saudi-led coalition supporting the government. The Houthis' advances have triggered a decline in Gulf stocks and volatile energy markets.

   What is confirmed

   • The Houthi rebels captured Yemen's Red Sea coast and Mokha in a 48-hour offensive aided by alleged Iranian advisers.
   • The Houthi rebels seized the strategic islands of Greater and Lesser Hanish.
   • Over a dozen countries depend on the Bab al-Mandab Strait for more than half of their maritime trade by value.
   • Saudi Aramco has halted October crude deliveries to Indian and some European refiners following attacks on three pumping stations along the Saudi East-West pipeline.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The Houthi takeover of parts of the Red Sea gives the armed group a new platform to challenge global shipping.

   What to watch next

   • Yemeni government forces' response to the Houthi advances
   • Saudi Arabia's exploration of alternative oil export options
   • The impact of the conflict on global oil prices and trade
   Sources used for this update (16)

   1. www.cfr.org — Another Hormuz? The Red Sea’s Threat to the Global Economy
   2. spectrumlocalnews.com — Saudi oil pipeline hit in strikes will be mostly out of service for several weeks for repair
   3. www.indiatoday.in — Houthi rebels seize Yemen Red Sea coast with Iranian advisers, Mokha falls in 48 hours - India Today
   4. www.aljazeera.com — Yemen government forces widen attacks against Houthis: What we know | Conflict News
   5. theconversation.com — Yemen’s Houthis move to control crucial waterway – our research maps the countries most at risk
   6. www.yahoo.com — Iranian advisers helped Houthis seize Yemen’s Red Sea coast ...
   7. www.ynetnews.com — Report: Iranian advisers helped direct Houthi blitz that ...
   8. cde.news — Houthis advance along Yemeni coast, threaten Saudi oil ...
   9. www.europesays.com — How a week of Houthi attacks threatens Saudi oil and rattles ...
   10. www.butlereagle.com — Iranian advisers helped Houthis seize Yemen’s Red Sea coast ...
   11. www.middleeasteye.net — Red Sea crisis: What missiles and drones do the Houthis have?
   12. thearabianpost.com — Houthis seize key positions around Bab al-Mandab strait
   confidence 85%
6. 45d ago

   Houthis Target Saudi Pipeline as Control of Red Sea Coast Expands

   Saudi Aramco has halted October crude deliveries to Indian and some European refiners following attacks on three pumping stations along the Saudi East-West pipeline. The disruption coincides with Houthi rebels seizing additional islands in the southern Red Sea to strengthen their control over shipping routes. While Saudi Arabia explores alternative oil export options, the attacks have triggered a decline in Gulf stocks and volatile energy markets. West Texas Intermediate oil prices recently slipped below $100, though replacement barrels for affected refiners remain expensive as freight costs are expected to rise.

   Why it matters

   The Houthi movement is expanding its territorial reach from the Red Sea coast toward Yemen's oil-rich eastern regions. This escalation threatens critical energy infrastructure and global oil flows. Saudi Arabia is currently managing the fallout of these attacks amid reported diplomatic tensions with the United States.

   What is confirmed

   • Saudi Aramco stopped crude supplies to Indian and some European refiners for October following pipeline attacks.
   • Three pumping stations along the Saudi East-West pipeline were hit in a recent attack.
   • Houthi rebels have seized more key islands in the southern Red Sea.
   • Saudi and Gulf stocks fell after Houthis claimed attacks on Riyadh.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Donald Trump may have abandoned the Bab al-Mandeb strait to the Houthis.

   What to watch next

   • Confirmation of Saudi Arabia's alternative oil export routes
   • Houthi military movement toward eastern Yemen oil fields
   • Official US response to Saudi requests for support
   Sources used for this update (14)

   1. AP News — Yemen's Houthi rebels seize more key islands in southern Red Sea, tighten grip on shipping routes
   2. The New York Times — Saudi Arabia Faces ‘Worst-Case Scenario’ After Being Rebuffed by Trump
   3. AP News — What the closure of Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline could mean for oil flows
   4. CBS News — How Iran's regional allies' attacks in Yemen are compounding the war's impact on oil prices
   5. WSJ — Saudi Arabia Has Another Option to Get Its Oil Out
   6. Al Jazeera — ‘They called us’: Has Trump abandoned Bab al-Mandeb to the Houthis?
   7. Reuters — Three pumping stations along Saudi East-West Pipeline were hit in recent attack, sources say
   8. WSJ — Oil Prices Fall for Third Day as WTI Slips Below $100
   9. The Nation — A Spreading War Rattles Global Energy Markets
   10. Bloomberg.com — Saudis Tell European Refiners They’ll Get No Crude Next Month
   11. Reuters — Aramco halts October crude deliveries to some European refiners after pipeline attack, Bloomberg reports
   12. The Times of Israel — Houthis eye Yemen’s oil-rich east after seizing Red Sea coast
   confidence 90%