Houthi forces capture Mokha and Red Sea islands as Brent crude nears $107

Capture of Mokha and northern islands

Houthi fighters took control of the port city of Mokha on 10 September 2026 following a nine-day offensive that advanced from three directions. Yemeni government forces withdrew from the city after fighting on its outskirts, allowing rebel units to enter while chanting anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans. On the same day, Houthi forces expanded their perimeter northwest across the Red Sea, taking control of Jazirat Jabal Zuqar within the Hanish archipelago. Military sources in the internationally recognized government stated that Houthi forces are attempting to secure the entire Yemeni Red Sea coastline. Middle East Institute analyst Wolfgang Pusztai evaluated the loss of Mokha as a critical development for the country's military balance.

This is a turning point in the war. It could lead to the collapse of government forces in the southern part of Yemen. The port of Mokha was the last port remaining under full control of the international government.

Chokepoint pressure on Bab al-Mandab

Mokha sits approximately 80 kilometres north of the Bab al-Mandab strait, the southern gateway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Control over Mokha and offshore positions gives Houthi forces enhanced reach over maritime corridors that carried between 4% and 9% of global crude production between 2020 and 2025. Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam stated on X that rebel actions remain defensive and targeted, though he confirmed that security guarantees do not apply to Saudi Arabian vessels. Yemeni analyst Fuad Mussed told Al Jazeera that the operation forms part of a broader strategy to coordinate maritime pressure across both Bab al-Mandab and the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil markets and Saudi export alternatives

Brent crude moved toward $107 per barrel on 11 September 2026, putting the global benchmark on track for its largest weekly gain since July. Benchmark crude prices have risen by almost 80% in 2026, though they remain below the April peak of slightly over $126 per barrel. Houthi political official Mohammed al-Farah warned that a complete closure of the Bab al-Mandab strait could push crude prices to $200 per barrel. The escalation directly impacts Saudi Arabia, whose crude extraction fell in August to its lowest volume since 1990. With Iranian forces already blocking passage through the Strait of Hormuz for over six months, Saudi authorities had relied on Red Sea ports as their primary alternative export route.

Market participants appear to be revising their expectations regarding the severity and duration of the war in Iran.

Retaliatory strikes and diplomatic friction

The resumption of active combat ended a period of relative calm in Yemen that had endured under a truce established in 2022. Hostilities flared in July 2026 after Saudi authorities halted a flight transporting Houthi delegates returning from the funeral of Ali Khamenei, prompting the Houthis to declare a naval blockade against the kingdom. In the past two weeks, Houthi strikes hit Saudi energy facilities, causing temporary operational pauses. Saudi aircraft responded to the fall of Mokha on Thursday evening by launching multiple airstrikes against rebel positions. Reporting from Axios revealed that US President Donald Trump held two phone calls with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday, pressing Riyadh to confront the Houthis while refusing requests for American military assistance.