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Iran-Backed Houthi Terrorists Seize Strategic Red Sea Port

The militant group has tightened its grip on vital international shipping lanes, escalating the threat to global energy security.

Foreign PolicyPublished September 11, 2026 at 9:20 AM
Screengrab of a video from Houthi-run Al Masirah TV showing an armed man walks next to an armoured vehicle in Mokha, Yemen, after the Houthis seized the Red Sea port city (10 September 2026)

The Iran-backed Houthi militia has escalated its regional aggression, successfully seizing the strategic port city of Mokha and the island of Perim in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

This aggressive expansion by the Houthi forces, which serves as a proxy for Iranian influence, places the group in a position to threaten one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints.

While the militants claim international shipping remains safe, they have simultaneously maintained a hostile embargo on Saudi-bound vessels, directly contributing to global energy market volatility. The seizure follows a series of violent clashes and a coordinated offensive that has forced pro-government forces to retreat.

Tarek Salah, leader of the National Resistance Forces, confirmed the heavy toll of the fighting, explicitly noting that the Houthi offensive was planned and supported by the Iranian regime.

As the Houthis continue to launch missile and drone strikes against Saudi oil facilities and civilian infrastructure, the humanitarian situation in Yemen has deteriorated, with thousands displaced.

The head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, has issued an urgent call for international assistance to secure the coastline and push back against this militant encroachment.

This latest development underscores the ongoing failure of regional containment efforts and the persistent threat posed by Iranian-backed proxies to global stability and the sovereignty of the Yemeni state.

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foreign-policyyemenhouthisiranred-sea

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