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Houthis seize Red Sea islands and push for Bab el-Mandeb as oil prices surge PAST $100

From the Newshound archive · first published 23 September 2026.

Saudi-backed Yemeni forces move through a desert ridge in the Jawf area, as anti-Houthi factions — divided by geography and rival foreign sponsors — have failed to halt the rebels' seizure of Yemen's entire Red Sea…
Saudi-backed Yemeni forces move through a desert ridge in the Jawf area, as anti-Houthi factions — divided by geography and rival foreign sponsors — have failed to halt the rebels' seizure of Yemen's entire Red Sea…

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have seized Yemen's entire Red Sea coastline, including strategic islands in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, in their biggest land grab in years. The lightning advance has ended a truce in place since 2022, sent oil prices surging above $100 a barrel, and placed the rebels on one of the world's busiest shipping chokepoints. Washington has so far rebuffed Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's repeated pleas for the US to join the fight.

The Houthis' capture of Mokha, a strategic Red Sea city, has routed Saudi-backed government forces and cut off their coastal positions.

Iran helped orchestrate the Houthi blitz, sources tell the AP, while Saudi Arabia has launched hundreds of air strikes in retaliation to little effect.

Anti-Houthi factions remain deeply divided by geography and rival foreign sponsors, giving the rebels — a single unified command — a decisive battlefield edge.

MoreDaily MailHouthi advance threatens Red Sea oil route and global shippingYahoo News UKYemen’s factions battling Iran-backed Houthis share a common enemy but not common goalsAPYemen's Houthi rebels shook up the Mideast with a sudden blitz. Iran helped, sources tell APDaily MailThe conflict sending global oil prices soaring: How Iran-backed Houthis have seized islands in Red Sea shipping route in escalating war with Saudi Arabia
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