Key Takeaways
- Yemen's Houthis have captured Hanish islands and Mocha city, advancing towards Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
- Houthis warn they will only halt attacks when the 'aggression' against Yemen ends.
- Brent crude prices remain above $100 a barrel due to concerns over shipping routes.
Yemen's Houthis have made significant territorial gains, capturing the Red Sea islands of Hanish and the coastal city of Mocha, according to two Yemeni government sources. These developments have raised concerns about the security of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime route.
The Houthis have shifted their focus from the northern regions to control over Yemen’s long coastline, putting them in a stronger position to disrupt maritime trade. The strategic move comes as fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces has intensified in recent days.
Mohammed Abdulsalam, a Houthi spokesperson, stated that freedom of navigation and international trade in the Red Sea and the Strait remain safe, but operations are limited to specific targets. He added that the group will only stop their attacks when the 'aggression' against Yemen ends.
The Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center, established to liaise with commercial shipping operators, has declared that navigation in the Red Sea is safe for all shipping companies, except Saudi vessels, which remain subject to a previously announced ban.
The capture of Hanish and Mocha has pushed government forces and their allies south to Dhubab, which is strategically located directly on the strait across from the island of Perim. Control of Dhubab and the island is key to gaining hold of the strait, according to the Yemeni sources.
The escalation in fighting between Saudi Arabia’s Yemeni allies in the internationally recognised government and the Houthis has created a second theatre of war in the Iran conflict, threatening global energy and commodity supplies.
Brent crude prices hovered above $100 a barrel on Thursday as supply routes through both the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea remained heavily disrupted. Saudi Arabia has been loading millions of barrels of oil a day from its Yanbu port, further north on the Red Sea coast, to avoid the Strait of Hormuz.
The situation in Bab el-Mandeb Strait is closely monitored by global shipping companies and energy traders, who are concerned about potential disruptions to their operations. The ongoing conflict and the potential for further escalation could have significant economic implications.
freedom of navigation and international trade in the Red Sea and the Strait remain safe and operations are limited to specific targets.
Mohammed Abdulsalam, Houthi spokesperson
