Red Sea nations watch as Houthis seize Bab al

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Published: 2026-09-13T18:15:51.147Z • Permanent link

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense announced yesterday that Houthi rebels from Yemen have seized control of the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait, a vital waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis, who have been waging a devastating conflict against the Saudi-led coalition since 2015, have long sought to disrupt global maritime trade and energy supplies. This latest development marks a significant escalation in the region's proxy war, with far-reaching implications for global economic stability.

Details of the seizure are still emerging, but reports indicate that the Houthis have taken control of several key installations, including the Bab al-Mandeb air base and the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Transit Corridor. The transit corridor, which is used by over 50% of global oil exports, has been closed by the Houthis, threatening to disrupt the global energy market. This move is seen as a major blow to Saudi Arabia's efforts to maintain control of the strait and protect its oil supplies.

Hadi al-Masiri, the Yemeni government's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, condemned the seizure in a statement, calling it a "grave threat to regional security and stability." The Houthis, however, have vowed to continue their resistance against the Saudi-led coalition and its allies, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

The seizure of the Bab al-Mandeb strait has significant implications for global economic stability, particularly in the energy sector. The transit corridor is a critical link in the global supply chain, and any disruption to it could lead to price increases and shortages. This could have far-reaching consequences for companies such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Shell, which rely on the strait to transport oil and other commodities.

The impact of the seizure will also be felt in the research community, where experts are closely monitoring the situation. The Bab al-Mandeb strait is a critical component of the global maritime trade network, and any disruption to it could have significant implications for the development of new energy technologies and the global energy market. As researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, noted in a recent study, the strait is "a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies, and any disruption to it could have significant implications for energy security.

The seizure of the Bab al-Mandeb strait is part of a larger pattern of instability in the Middle East, where competing interests and proxy wars have created a volatile security environment. The conflict in Yemen, which began in 2015, has drawn in multiple countries and factions, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran. The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have long sought to challenge the Saudi-led coalition's control of the strait and disrupt global maritime trade.