Iran‑backed Houthi forces seized Yemen’s strategic port of Mocha on Thursday, opening a new front that threatens the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait and could spike global oil prices. The advance puts Saudi‑backed Yemeni troops on the defensive and endangers one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
Houthi Gains Threaten Red Sea Trade
The Houthis now control Mocha and have pushed toward the Hanish Islands, while Saudi‑backed Yemeni forces retreated toward Dhubab on the Bab el‑Mandeb opposite Perim Island. Controlling Dhubab and Perim would give the rebels a stronger hold over the strait.
Shipping Volumes Shift as Oil Reroutes
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that Bab el‑Mandeb traffic rose to 8.1 million barrels per day in Q2 2026, up from 5.4 million in Q4 2025, while Hormuz shipments fell from 21.6 million to 4.9 million barrels daily. Saudi Arabia rerouted crude through its East‑West pipeline to Yanbu to avoid Hormuz, driving the surge.
U.S. Officials Vow to Protect Navigation
A senior administration official told Fox News Digital that the United States will protect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and work with Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government to stabilize the region. Washington says it is in continuous dialogue with its partners and will not deploy troops directly.
Regional Backing and Iranian Influence
Yemeni government sources say Iranian arms and guidance from the Revolutionary Guards helped the Houthis capture Mocha, a claim Tehran denies. Two Iranian sources told Reuters that Tehran ordered the Houthis to intensify attacks on Saudi Arabia and promised more funding and senior officers.
Saudi Strikes and Counter‑Attacks Escalate
Saudi forces launched at least 15 air strikes against Houthi positions between September 3‑7, the highest tally since the July resumption of the campaign. The Houthis responded on September 8 with a wave of drones and missiles that struck Saudi cities, injuring 73 people.
Defense Pact Tested Amid Rising Tensions
A new joint defense pact signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey declares that an attack on one member is an attack on all three. Pakistan says no military response under the pact is currently being considered, though it pledges action when the time comes.
Oil Prices React
Brent crude jumped more than 5% to $106.60 a barrel, while U.S. crude topped $100 for the first time since May, reflecting market anxiety over the widening Red Sea threat.
Analysts Warn of Further Escalation
European Institute of Peace senior adviser Hisham Al‑Omeisy said the Houthis excel at entrenching captured positions, making them hard to dislodge. He warned that pushing them out could prove increasingly difficult.
Efrat Lachter, a Fox News Digital reporter with 15 years covering conflict, has earned two Rockower Awards and a Peres Center for Peace Award.
