Houthis now hold Yemen's whole Red Sea coast up to the Bab el-Mandeb
A 36-hour push took Mocha, Dhubab and Perim Island. Iran's allies now sit on both oil choke points around Arabia.
- What fell: Mocha fell on Thursday, September 10; Dhubab and Perim Island in the strait followed on Friday. About 12% of global trade passes the Bab el-Mandeb each day.
- Why Saudi Arabia is exposed: With Hormuz disrupted since February, Riyadh pushed its East-West pipeline to seven million barrels a day and sent 21% more oil out through the Red Sea. Attacks forced a pipeline shutdown, and the crown prince pressed Trump twice in a day for strikes; Trump offered targeting help instead.
- Can they close the strait: Analysts split: some see a more capable force with better Iranian weapons, others say the Houthis cannot sustain a blockade and that a hint of danger already reroutes ships.