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ConflictsMiddle East

Houthi gains in Yemen threaten key Red Sea shipping route

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Halida Abbaro
September 16, 2026

Houthi rebels have seized strategic territory on Yemen's coast after Trump reportedly denied Saudi requests for US airstrikes. What might those gains mean?

Houthi rebels have seized the Yemeni port of Mokha and the strategic Hanish islands as part of an offensive along the Red Sea coast. The gains put the Iran-backed group near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait — a key global shipping route. The Houthis have also targeted Saudi Arabia and its oil infrastructure, as Riyadh seeks military assistance.

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