Shocking Houthi Takeover Threatens Vital Red Sea Oil Shipping Route
Iran-backed Houthi forces have seized the Yemeni port of Mocha and Perim Island, effectively placing a second global oil chokepoint under hostile control. Here are the key details of this major regional development:
- The operation took place over a 36-hour period with fighters, ballistic missiles, and boats.
- Government troops retreated and Saudi air support failed to arrive.
- Crude oil prices have exceeded $100 per barrel following the event.
Ground Advance and Territorial Control
The operation saw Houthi columns consisting of fighters, ballistic missiles, and boats advance across the Tihama plain. Government troops retreated, and promised Saudi air support failed to arrive, according to a senior Yemeni officer who contacted U.S. Central Command during the collapse. By Friday, Houthi forces also secured the mainland town of Dhubab, alongside previously captured Hanish and Zuqar islands, claiming control of approximately 5,400 square kilometers since September 3.
Strategic Threats to Shipping Lanes
Perim Island, located within the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, divides the passage between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. With the Houthis now positioned on this volcanic rock, shipping lanes connecting the Red Sea to the Suez Canal are vulnerable to small-scale attacks. This development forces Saudi Arabia, which had previously rerouted crude through the Red Sea due to Iranian pressure in the Strait of Hormuz, to face a new blockade. Market impacts have been immediate, with crude oil prices exceeding $100 per barrel, as analysts estimate one-third of seaborne energy trade is now under pressure. Additionally, Saudi Arabia recently shut a key pipeline following a drone attack from Iraq.
Political and Military Fallout
Political and military fallout is significant. A Western source indicated that Yemeni units defending Mocha were only at 20 percent of their paper strength. Although CENTCOM chief Admiral Brad Cooper met with Saudi officials last Thursday and more than 100 U.S. advisers were recently deployed for intelligence support, no air strikes were launched. Sources noted that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged President Trump to authorize strikes, but the request was declined. Meanwhile, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader characterized the advance as a clear victory, and Iranian sources previously reported that Tehran had instructed the Houthis to escalate operations against Saudi Arabia. Yemeni government forces have vowed to attempt a counter-offensive to retake the coast. However, Houthi spokesman Yahya Sarea stated the campaign is intended to establish a blockade until Saudi pressure on Houthi-held areas is lifted. Amr Al-Bidh of the Southern Transitional Council noted that the Houthis can effectively leverage the strait without advanced weaponry. A meeting between Gulf foreign ministers and Iran’s foreign minister is scheduled for Monday in Salalah, Oman, to discuss Hormuz shipping, though the new reality on the Red Sea complicates diplomatic efforts. Reporting is based on information from CNN, Reuters, AP, Al-Monitor, Foreign Affairs, CGTN, and Yemeni official statements as of September 12, 2026.