Houthi Rebels Expand Control Over Red Sea Islands and Port
Yemen's Houthi rebels have seized more strategic islands, including Greater and Lesser Hanish, and the port city of Mokha in the southern Red Sea, tightening their control over key maritime shipping routes near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Detroit, MI, September 14, 2026 —
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have expanded their territorial control in the southern Red Sea region, reportedly seizing several strategic islands and a significant port city. This development could have implications for maritime shipping routes.
The rebels are reported to have taken control of the Greater Hanish and Lesser Hanish islands. These islands are situated in a crucial maritime area. Additionally, the Houthi forces have reportedly seized the port city of Mokha.
The seizure of these locations tightens the Houthi rebels’ grip on key maritime shipping routes. Mokha is a port city located in the southern Red Sea, and the Hanish islands are strategically positioned near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital chokepoint for global trade and energy shipments connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
The exact date of these seizures was not provided in the summary. The full extent of the Houthi rebels’ control over these areas and the immediate impact on maritime traffic were not detailed.
Story summarized from the original created by Samy Magdy, Associated Press on www.clickondetroit.com, see more information here.
