The Houthi movement has captured the Red Sea port city of Mokha and is now advancing toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a serious international shipping route, according to Yemeni government sources and regional media. The group has also taken control of Perim Island, which sits within the strait, further tightening its grip on a key maritime corridor.

Houthi Advances and Iranian Influence

According to a Houthi commander, the group now has the ability to position artillery along the Red Sea coast and directly threaten shipping without relying on missiles or drones. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that maritime navigation remains safe for all companies except for Saudi vessels. This aligns with Iran’s broader strategy to assert influence over key waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz, and could serve as use in future negotiations with the U.S.

Iran’s partial control of the Strait of Hormuz has long been a strategic tool in its conflict with the U.S., and the Houthi advances in the Red Sea may offer another point of use. Iranian officials are set to meet regional Arab representatives to discuss shipping through the strait, favoring a collective regional approach; However, the U.S. reportedly opposes any agreement that would ease restrictions on shipping, given its ongoing sanctions and naval blockade of Iranian ports.

Environmental and Security Risks

The Houthi attacks have already caused environmental damage, including a 29-kilometre oil slick in the Red Sea after the Rubymar, a Belize-flagged vessel carrying 41,000 tonnes of fertilizer, was hit with multiple missiles on February 18. The ship is now anchored and slowly taking on water, according to U.S. Central Command. The spill poses a risk to the fishing industry and coastal communities and could worsen an existing environmental disaster.

U.S. officials are reportedly unsure of the substance causing the oil slick and have cited concerns about the difficulty of safely reaching the vessel; the Houthi attacks continue despite warnings from the U.S. and its allies about the risks to global trade and security. The U.S. has also labeled the Houthi group a terrorist organization, a move that has drawn criticism from some Yemenis who fear it will hinder humanitarian aid and increase regional tensions.

Regional Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis

The capture of Mokha has broken a four-year informal ceasefire in Yemen’s civil war, which has already killed hundreds of thousands and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Yemen’s internationally recognized government launched airstrikes in response to the Houthi advances and warned civilians to avoid roads between Taiz and Mokha; Houthi-owned Al-Masirah TV reported that Saudi-backed forces launched 40 airstrikes across several provinces.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and connects Europe and Asia via the Suez Canal, handles between 10% and 12% of global maritime oil and energy traffic. With the Strait of Hormuz already effectively closed due to the U.S.-Iran conflict, the strategic importance of the Bab el-Mandeb has grown; Experts warn that Houthi control over the strait could further destabilize global trade and energy markets.

Ebrahim Azizi, head of the hardline Iranian parliament’s national security commission, said dialogue is “of no use” under current circumstances. The U.S. has intensified sanctions on Iran and continues its naval blockade, while Iranian officials have ruled out negotiations unless the U.S. accepts all of Iran’s conditions.