Houthi forces have seized the port city of Mocha and are pushing further south towards the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait (AFP)
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that 8.1 million barrels per day of crude oil, condensate and petroleum products passed through Bab el-Mandeb in the second quarter of 2026, up from 5.4 million bpd in the previous quarter. That was roughly 8 percent of global oil supply during the period. The Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center said navigation remained safe for all shipping companies except Saudi vessels, which remain subject to a previously announced ban.
Grundberg said the Houthis’ control of Mocha gives them “a direct presence on the approaches to one of the world’s most vital straits”, raising serious concerns over freedom of navigation and maritime trade security. Iran’s foreign ministry, meanwhile, said the Yemen conflict could not be resolved through a blockade or military action against the Houthis and called for dialogue, without addressing Tehran’s own role in supporting the group. UN special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg told the UN Security Council on Thursday that the international community must act to address the escalating conflict.
“Control of Dhubab and the island is key to gaining hold of the strait, according to Yemeni government sources cited by Reuters. The latest development has raised the stakes further, with Iran-backed Houthis now controlling a Yemeni island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the entrance to the Red Sea, according to officials cited by the Associated Press. Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam said freedom of navigation and international trade in the Red Sea and the strait remained safe, but added that Houthi operations would continue until the “aggression” against Yemen ends.
The group has also moved against the Hanish Islands, while Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have withdrawn towards Dhubab, a coastal town located directly on the strait, opposite Perim Island. The move gives the Houthis a direct foothold in the strategic waterway and strengthens their ability to threaten shipping passing through the strait.