Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Houthis Seize Mayun, Threatening Key Red Sea Shipping Route
The Houthis are an armed group fighting Yemen’s government.
Reports say they took control of Mayun Island near the entrance to the Red Sea.
The island sits in the Bab al-Mandeb, an important route for ships and oil exports.
Other reports said the Houthis also captured the port city of Mokha and Zuqar Island.
Saudi Arabia responded with airstrikes on Mocha airport.
Government troops on the Hanish islands were reportedly surrounded and needed help.
More than 2,000 soldiers may have been affected.
Some officials worry the Houthis could disrupt ships using the waterway.
A Houthi representative said international shipping was safe and faced no danger from Yemen.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis reportedly seized Mayun Island and completed their takeover of the Bab al-Mandeb area.
Reports also said the Houthis captured the Red Sea port city of Mokha, while Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes on Mocha airport.
Mayun, also known as Perim, divides the Bab al-Mandeb strait into shipping lanes linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
The Houthis had also seized Zuqar Island, while more than 2,000 government troops on the Hanish islands were reportedly besieged.
Houthi official Hazem al-Assad said commercial shipping remained safe, while officials warned the takeover could threaten maritime traffic and Saudi oil exports.
- Who
- Iran-backed Houthi fighters, Yemen’s Riyadh-backed government forces, and Saudi Arabia.
- What
- The Houthis reportedly seized Mayun Island and Zuqar Island, took control of areas near Bab al-Mandeb and Mokha, and besieged government troops on the Hanish islands.
- When
- The takeover of Mayun was reported on Friday after government forces withdrew the previous day; the broader offensive began the previous week.
- Where
- Mayun Island, also known as Perim, the Bab al-Mandeb strait, Mokha on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, Zuqar Island, and the Hanish islands.
- Why
- The developments were part of a Houthi offensive and raised concerns because Bab al-Mandeb is a major route for international shipping and Saudi oil exports.
Security Concerns
Houthi Reassurances
Risk to shipping
Security Concerns
Yemeni officials and observers warned that Houthi control of islands around Bab al-Mandeb could allow the group to monitor or disrupt commercial shipping and threaten Saudi oil exports.
Houthi Reassurances
Houthi politburo member Hazem al-Assad said freedom of navigation and international trade in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb were safe and orderly, with no danger from the Yemeni side.
Military significance
Security Concerns
Officials said the takeover could significantly alter the military balance around the strait, while government troops on the Hanish islands reportedly faced a siege and requested rescue, supplies and possible air support.
Houthi Reassurances
A Yemeni government official said the number of Houthi fighters on Mayun was not large and suggested they might deploy on hills overlooking the strait.
Reported pipeline incident
Security Concerns
Video, satellite imagery and thermal data reportedly showed smoke and possible fire along Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline after suspected Houthi attacks.
Houthi Reassurances
The report said there was no independent confirmation that the pipeline had caught fire.
- Main development
- The Houthis reportedly seized Mayun Island and completed their takeover of the Bab al-Mandeb area.
- Reported port takeover
- Reports said the Houthis captured the Red Sea port city of Mokha.
- Strategic waterway
- Bab al-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean.
- Other islands
- Zuqar Island was reportedly seized, while government forces remained on the two Hanish islands.
- Besieged troops
- More than 2,000 Yemeni government troops on the Hanish islands were reportedly surrounded.
- Saudi response
- Saudi Arabia reportedly launched airstrikes on Mocha airport.
- Pipeline report
- A suspected Houthi attack reportedly caused smoke and possible fire along Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline, but no independent confirmation was reported.
