Houthi Advances Escalate Security Concerns in Red Sea Region

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have taken control of the Greater and Lesser Hanish Islands in the southern Red Sea, strengthening their hold over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. According to government and Houthi officials, after hundreds of government coalition troops withdrew, Houthi fighters were deployed on the Hanish Islands. This recent security development brings the Houthis approximately 32 kilometers from the US military base in Djibouti, raising concerns about potential disruptions to the global oil supply. (September 15, Cairo – RASAS/AP)

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have seized additional strategically significant islands in the southern Red Sea. Both government and Houthi sources report that this move on Monday further consolidates rebel control over a crucial maritime passage. The Houthis now hold dominance over the Greater Hanish and Lesser Hanish Islands. This advance came as the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces were attempting to block Houthi advances near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Indian Ocean and is a vital sea route for global trade and oil transportation. According to two government officials and one Houthi official, after hundreds of government coalition soldiers withdrew from the archipelago, the Houthis have deployed combatants on the Hanish Islands located approximately 160 kilometers north of Bab al-Mandeb.

Last week, the Houthis also took control of the nearby mainland port city of Mokha and Mayyun Island, which lies within the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. With this latest territorial gain, the Houthis are now just about 32 kilometers from the US military base in Djibouti on the opposite side of the strait. This advancement enables the Houthis to exert greater pressure on Saudi oil shipments traversing the Red Sea. Heightened regional tensions increase the risk of disruptions to global oil supply and rising prices. Although the government forces initially withdrew without significant resistance, they reportedly sought to reorganize over the weekend. On Sunday night, the Yemeni military announced it was advancing troops toward the strategic northern strait city of Dhubab. After a relatively stable ceasefire spanning three years, renewed fighting in Yemen risks plunging the country back into full-scale civil war.