On Sunday, 13 September 2026, reports confirmed that Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi forces seized the port of Mokha and Mayun Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
- Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi forces seized the port of Mokha and Mayun Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Sunday, 13 September 2026.
- Saudi Civil Defence confirmed a projectile impacted Al-Tuwal in Jazan on 12 September 2026, causing two injuries and significant damage.
- Saudi Arabia ceased operations on its East-West Pipeline after drone strikes from Iraq, pushing oil prices toward $100 per barrel.
- Iranian officials are scheduled to meet with several Gulf states in Oman on Monday to discuss shipping and fees.
This strategic escalation follows Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Following a reported missile-and-drone strike on a Saudi military base at Sharurah, Saudi Civil Defence confirmed that a projectile impacted Al-Tuwal in Jazan on 12 September 2026, resulting in two injuries and significant damage to a mosque, vehicles, and buildings.
Saudi Arabia has ceased operations on its East-West Pipeline following drone strikes originating from Iraq. This move has pushed oil prices toward $100 per barrel and forced shipping insurers to adjust global routes. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the earlier Sharurah strike targeted weapons depots and command centers. In response, Saudi aircraft have conducted strikes on Houthi positions near Mocha, and Yemeni government forces are currently regrouping in Marib.
Meanwhile, Iranian officials are scheduled to meet with several Gulf states in Oman on Monday to discuss shipping and fees related to the Strait of Hormuz, although no formal agreement is anticipated. Bahrain has declined to participate in these talks, citing a disregard for previous attacks on its territory.
The UAE and Iran recently held high-level discussions between Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan and President Masoud Pezeshkian at a BRICS summit in India. On Sunday, a commercial vessel near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz was struck, resulting in one death and three injuries, according to Iranian authorities. The UKMTO confirmed a projectile hit a vessel in the area, though attribution remains unclear. Regional and international sources, including Reuters, report that the IRGC is actively providing support to the Houthis as part of a broader strategy to leverage oil control and exert pressure on Washington’s Gulf partners following the start of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February 2026.
