It took just a few days for Houthi forces to seize most of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including the shores of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial Red Sea maritime choke point.
The offensive started on Sept. 3, 2026, with a push to cut the strategically important road linking the city of Taiz to the port of Mokha. By Sept. 11, Mokha, the town of Dhubab and the island of Mayyun, in the mouth of the strait, were under Houthi control.
