Houthis capture strategic Red Sea port, raising energy security concerns

Houthi militants have consolidated control over a major port facility in Yemen, according to four government military sources, further tightening their grip on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—the narrow waterway linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.

The seizure represents a significant strategic gain for the Yemen-based militant group, which has progressively expanded its military capabilities and territorial control despite years of Saudi-led coalition airstrikes. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait remains one of the world's most critical shipping corridors, handling substantial volumes of international commerce and energy exports destined for Europe, Asia, and beyond.

Analysts have warned that Houthi control over key Red Sea positions could enable the group to disrupt maritime traffic or impose economic leverage over commercial shipping. The port capture underscores ongoing instability in Yemen and the broader Middle East, with potential implications for global energy prices and supply chain security.

The development comes amid wider regional tensions and follows previous Houthi attacks on commercial and military vessels transiting Red Sea waters. International shipping companies have faced mounting pressure to reassess routes and security protocols in the contested waterway.