Houthi Advance in Yemen Threatens Key Red Sea and Gulf Chokepoints

Iranian-backed Houthi fighters have broken through defensive lines in Yemen, capturing key coastal areas and islands at the southern entrance of the Red Sea. Within a span of 36 hours, the group took control of the strategic port city of Mocha and Perim Island, strengthening their grip on vital maritime trade routes.

The rapid advance threatens the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a crucial passage accounting for roughly 7 percent of global oil flows and 12 percent of international trade. This development creates a severe strategic dilemma for United States President Donald Trump, as adversaries now effectively control two critical Middle Eastern energy chokepoints.

“This was always the worst-case scenario: the Iranians exercising control not only over the Strait of Hormuz, but also over Bab el-Mandeb.”

The situation has sparked friction among US allies, with Yemeni military sources accusing Saudi Arabia of failing to provide promised airstrikes during the offensive. According to a high-ranking Yemeni source, requests for air support directed to Saudi allies and the US Central Command yielded no actual intervention before Mocha fell.

With Iran already disrupting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—which previously carried about a fifth of global oil supply—the escalating Houthi control over Bab el-Mandeb raises fears of a dangerous second front. Analysts warn that Tehran is utilizing these maritime choke points to exert maximum economic pressure on global markets.