Houthis Take Bab al-Mandab, Key Route for 10% of Shipping

By 22 September 2026, Houthi forces controlled the Bab al-Mandab strait after a three-week offensive taking Mocha and strategic Red Sea islands. The narrow passage carries 10% of global shipping. It is the biggest gain in Yemen's four-year civil war, while Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz.