On Thursday, the Houthi movement took control of the historic port city of Mokha following several days of fierce combat. This action moves the Iran-backed faction closer to dominating a vital section of the Red Sea shoreline. Breitbart noted that skirmishes occurred across western provinces as government troops hurried to reinforce the strategic location. The harbor is located adjacent to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a tight channel linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
Intense combat has persisted since early July. The Washington Examiner observed that the war has intensified rapidly over recent months. Saudi Arabia and Yemeni officials state that the Houthis are approaching dominance over a large portion of the nation’s coast bordering this crucial strait. Should they secure total control, they could block a primary artery for global commerce.
Footage of a Houthi drone dropping a munition on a Saudi M1A2S Abrams MBT near Marib, causing the tank to suffer an ammunition explosion. pic.twitter.com/p5tv041wwr
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) August 21, 2026
On the battlefield, the Giants Brigade spearheads the offensive against the insurgents. This alliance of roughly 15,000 combatants has stayed faithful to the Yemeni government during the civil war. Breitbart indicated that the unit is considered an elite component of the Yemeni National Resistance Coalition. The majority of its ranks consist of tribal warriors who despise the Houthis and have been equipped and financed by the United Arab Emirates.
The Giants asserted they executed “precise strikes” targeting Houthi units along the western shoreline. They reported that these operations obliterated many vehicles and drones. Breitbart further noted that the militia claimed the deaths of several senior Houthi commanders. They added that personnel from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps deployed to assist were also struck. The group claimed they secured “significant battlefield gains” supported by government warplanes.
This conflict extends beyond local borders; it represents a worldwide energy crisis. The Washington Examiner referenced the Energy Information Administration, which reports that approximately 4.2 million barrels of oil transited the Bab el-Mandeb daily during the first half of 2025. The Daily Caller cited even larger numbers for a subsequent timeframe, indicating that roughly 8.1 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products moved through the strait in the second quarter of 2026. This volume represents approximately 8% of the world’s total oil supply.
NEW: ISW-CTP is tracking initial reports that the Houthis attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on July 22. Sources close to the Houthis previously stated that the Houthis had finished deploying missiles and drones near the Bab al Mandeb Strait to attack civilian… pic.twitter.com/dTdHD1KdyZ
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) July 22, 2026
Should this passage be obstructed, vessels will be forced to navigate a far longer route. The Daily Caller detailed that a prolonged disruption would compel ships to circumnavigate Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. This diversion extends voyage times by weeks and drastically increases expenses. Reuters reported that Houthi troops have also advanced onto the strategic Hanish Islands while government forces retreated further south toward Dhubab. Dominating both locations is essential for controlling the strait.
Analysts are monitoring the situation closely as the Houthis approach one of the globe’s most critical shipping bottlenecks. Breitbart cited an analyst stating, “We are looking at both the return of Houthi cross-border attacks into Saudi Arabia and the resumption of the group’s efforts to bring a virtual halt to Red Sea shipping.” The objective seems to be to “squeeze U.S.-aligned Gulf states from both sides of the Arabian Peninsula.”
Iran-backed forces aim to “maintain a demonstrable capacity to shut down Bab el-Mandeb.” If they achieve this, the global market will feel the impact instantly. The Daily Caller observed that a prolonged disruption would force vessels to sail around Africa, adding weeks and significant costs to voyages. The Houthis started targeting commercial ships in November 2023 after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. They now possess a major resupply hub. Saudi Arabia has attempted to maintain oil flow via pipelines, yet pressure on the maritime route is increasing. The Daily Caller reported that the Houthis “will not be able to handle” a sustained disruption without major consequences for global trade. The date the answer is due is today, and the number nobody would confirm is how long the ships can wait.
