Houthi forces have pushed into the Bab el-Mandeb Strait's islands after seizing the Red Sea port of Mokha, marking their first major ground offensive in four years. Yemen's Houthi military spokesman has signaled an imminent announcement of a large operation, following a pattern in which the group's public warnings have preceded real military action by months.
Houthi forces have advanced to key islands inside the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden through which roughly 12% of global trade passes daily. The push marks the group's first major ground offensive in four years, with casualties reported in the dozens on both sides.
A pattern of escalation
Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the Houthis' military spokesman, is signaling an imminent announcement of what the group calls a "large-scale and significant" military operation, according to Crypto Briefing, with the reveal expected at 4 PM local time. The Houthis, formally Ansar Allah, are an Iran-backed Zaydi Shia group that has held sway in northern Yemen since ousting the internationally recognized government in a 2014-2015 coup, an event that triggered a Saudi-led military intervention.
A UN-mediated ceasefire held broadly until mid-2026, when violence resumed with increasing frequency. In early August 2026, the group referenced plans for a wide-ranging, high-quality military operation after attacks on military targets in Marib. That was followed by a September 4 assault in western Taiz and Hodeida's Hayis district using heavy weapons, drones, and ground troops. By September 10, the group had seized Mokha, a strategic Red Sea port city.
The regional chessboard
Saudi-backed forces answered the advances with airstrikes targeting Houthi positions, yet the Houthis held Mokha and expanded their coastal footprint. The group says its operations are defensive responses to Saudi actions and influence in the region, while Iran continues to supply weapons technology, training, and strategic guidance. Houthi drone and missile capabilities have improved over the past several years, with attacks reaching deeper into Saudi territory and striking maritime vessels more accurately.
What to watch
Houthi attacks on commercial vessels have previously forced major shipping companies to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks and cost to voyages between Asia and Europe. Saree's May 6, 2026 announcement via Telegram foreshadowed the September offensive by nearly four months. The group's statements have historically been followed by action.
Source: Crypto Briefing
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