The Houthis have advanced along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, seizing control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and key ports, according to reports from Yemeni government sources and international media. The strait is a vital shipping route connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is central for global energy flows, particularly for oil shipments from Saudi Arabia. The Houthi advance marks the group’s largest territorial expansion since the 2022 truce.

Control of strategic islands and ports

Government forces have reportedly withdrawn from Perim Island, also known as Mayun Island, which divides the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into two shipping lanes, and the island’s capture strengthens the Houthis’ control over the strait, a key gateway for global oil and shipping traffic. In addition, the Houthi rebels have taken over the coastal area of Dhubab and the port city of Mocha, which is about 80 kilometers from the strait.

The Houthis are now within 50 kilometers of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, putting pressure on Saudi Arabia’s alternative oil export route through the Red Sea, though this route has been used to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has previously threatened to block. Brent crude oil prices rose to $105 a barrel as a result of the escalating tensions.

Oil slick from damaged ship

The US Central Command confirmed that the Rubymar, a UK-owned, Belize-flagged bulk carrier, was hit by multiple Houthi missiles on February 18 while sailing through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The vessel, which was carrying more than 41,000 tonnes of fertilizer, is now anchored but slowly taking on water, causing a 29-kilometre (18-mile) oil slick in the Red Sea.

US officials expressed uncertainty about the type of substance causing the slick and noted the difficulty of safely approaching the ship to attempt a tow to a port. The environmental impact of the spill remains unclear, but the US military warned that the situation could worsen and threaten the fishing industry, coastal communities, and food imports.

CNN cited an unnamed US official stating that the threat of further Houthi attacks in the region complicates any rescue or cleanup efforts. The Houthis have stated that their attacks will continue until Israel ends its war in Gaza, which has killed more than 29,600 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

Energy prices and international reactions

The Houthi control of the Red Sea has led to increased global oil prices and disrupted international shipping — In the US, diesel prices surpassed $6 a gallon, while oil prices closed above $100 a barrel for the first time since mid-May. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicted that global oil supply and demand would likely fall further this year than previously assumed, with the US-Iran conflict delaying normal Middle East oil flows until 2027.

Despite the rising tensions, a Houthi politburo member, Hazem al-Assad, told Al-Araby al-Jadeed that international shipping faces “no danger” from the group, but “Freedom of navigation and international trade in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab are safe and orderly,” he said.

Saudi Arabia has responded by bombing the airport in Mocha, according to a Houthi-affiliated broadcaster; However, details about the extent of the damage or potential casualties were not disclosed. Meanwhile, Yemeni government forces are expected to retaliate in an effort to recapture the areas now under Houthi control.