Houthis Reach Mayyun and Seize Dhubab as Fighting Moves Into Bab al-Mandab

Yemen’s Houthis reached the strategic island of Mayyun and seized Dhubab on the Yemeni coast opposite the island, according to Yemeni government sources who spoke to Reuters on Friday, bringing the fighting directly to the Bab al-Mandab Strait after the group’s rapid advance along the Red Sea coast.

The development came a day after the Houthis seized Mokha on Yemen’s western coast, while also reaching the Hanish Islands in the southern Red Sea. The latest development puts them on Mayyun inside the strait and in control of Dhubab on its Yemeni coast.

The advance does not, however, mean that the Houthis have gained full control of Bab al-Mandab. The strait is an international waterway between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, while Mayyun and Dhubab are strategically important because of their positions inside the strait and along its Yemeni shore.

Houthis at Bab al-Mandab: What Happened in Mayyun and Dhubab?

Four Yemeni government sources told Reuters that the Houthis reached Perim Island, known in Yemen as Mayyun, on Friday after government forces withdrew from it.

Earlier, two sources in Yemen’s internationally recognized government said the Houthis had also seized the Red Sea coastal town of Dhubab, opposite the island.

The Houthi advance has therefore expanded along two parallel axes: a coastal push extending south from Mokha to Dhubab and a maritime advance encompassing the Hanish Islands and then Mayyun. The latest development puts the Houthis, for the first time in this phase of the fighting, on an island inside the strait itself as well as at a position on its Yemeni coast.

Why Is Mayyun Island Important?

Mayyun lies inside the Bab al-Mandab Strait and divides the passage into two shipping channels, while Dhubab sits directly on the strait’s Yemeni coast.

Bab al-Mandab is about 29 kilometers (18 miles) wide at its narrowest point and forms the southern gateway to the Red Sea and the route to the Suez Canal, making it one of the most important maritime corridors between Asia and Europe.

According to Kpler data cited by Reuters, the equivalent of about 7% of global oil production passed through Bab al-Mandab in June.

The developments in Mayyun and Dhubab are therefore more directly tied to Bab al-Mandab than the earlier advance into the Hanish Islands, because Mayyun lies within the strait itself and Dhubab directly on its Yemeni coast.

Have the Houthis Taken Control of Bab al-Mandab?

There is no reliable information so far indicating that the Houthis have established full control over the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Reuters said the Houthi arrival on Mayyun and seizure of Dhubab could strengthen their grip on one of the world’s most important shipping routes. It described full control of the strait as a possibility that would have broader implications for energy supplies, rather than as something that has already occurred.

The Houthi presence at strategic positions around the strait gives the group greater leverage on the ground, but it is not the same as closing the waterway or exercising full control over international shipping.

Has Shipping Through Bab al-Mandab Stopped?

There is no indication so far of a complete halt to shipping. The latest vessel-tracking data cited by Reuters showed that 26 cargo ships passed through Bab al-Mandab on Thursday, compared with an average of about 27 ships a day over the previous 10 days.

The figures indicate that the major military shift around the strait had not, as of the latest available data, resulted in a broad decline in the number of vessels transiting the waterway.

The impact on shipping could emerge before any physical closure, however. Shipping companies and insurers monitor the risk of attacks, overall security conditions and insurance costs, factors that can prompt vessels to change course even while the strait remains open.

Government Forces Say They Will Retake Lost Areas

Yemeni government forces, meanwhile, said they would seek to retake areas seized by the Houthis during their rapid offensive along the Red Sea coast.

They announced the deployment of weapons and aircraft to counter Houthi movements in strategic areas, while military spokesman Colonel Majed al-Nazili urged civilians to avoid the road between Taiz and Mokha and stay away from Houthi equipment.

The developments indicate that the balance of control around Bab al-Mandab may not be settled, particularly after government forces said they intended to retake territory lost during the latest Houthi advance.

Why Do the Bab al-Mandab Developments Matter Beyond Yemen?

The developments carry broader significance because the region is simultaneously facing severe disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, while Saudi Arabia is relying more heavily on the Red Sea route to move oil away from the Gulf waterway.

Profile News’ daily report for September 10, 2026 tracked the widening regional risks alongside developments in Yemen and key maritime routes.

After the seizure of Mokha, the advance into Hanish and the subsequent developments in Dhubab and Mayyun, the focus of the fighting has shifted from the coast and islands north of Bab al-Mandab to positions directly linked to the strait itself.

The impact of this shift on shipping will be a key factor in the period ahead, particularly if vessel traffic begins to decline, insurance costs rise or major shipping companies start rerouting their vessels.

For now, Bab al-Mandab remains open to shipping. But the Houthi arrival on Mayyun and seizure of Dhubab have brought the conflict into a more sensitive area, where any sustained disruption could have consequences extending beyond Yemen and the Red Sea to global trade and energy routes.

Source

Reuters – Yemen’s Houthis reach strategic island at mouth of vital shipping lane