Houthi advance in Yemen raises concerns over Bab el-Mandeb shipping lane

Iranbacked Houthi forces seized the Yemeni port city of Mocha and moved closer to positions overlooking the Bab elMandeb Strait, a key route for global shipping between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The move has raised concern that traffic moving between Asia, Europe, and energy markets could face further disruption at a time when the Strait of Hormuz is already heavily constrained. According to energy data cited in the report, oil and petroleum flows through Bab elMandeb rose in the second quarter of 2026 as Saudi Arabia diverted more crude away from Hormuz. The article says fighting has also intensified across several areas in Yemen, with Saudi strikes and Houthi attacks increasing regional tension. Analysts warned that control of coastal territory near the strait could strengthen the Houthis’ leverage and make any reversal of their gains difficult. The escalation is also testing regional security arrangements involving Saudi Arabia and its partners, while adding pressure to already fragile shipping and energy markets.