Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis have captured the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands in the southern Red Sea, expanding their control around the strategic Bab el-Mandeb shipping route. The development follows the group’s recent seizure of the Red Sea port city of Mokha and Perim Island.
The Hanish islands are located about 160 kilometres north of Bab el-Mandeb, a major maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean. Hundreds of government-allied forces reportedly withdrew from the islands before the Houthi takeover.
The advances have increased concerns over the security of commercial shipping and Saudi oil exports, particularly as the Strait of Hormuz remains heavily disrupted by the wider regional conflict. The Houthis have also continued launching missiles and drones toward Saudi targets.
The escalation is placing additional pressure on Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which controls much of the south and east. Government forces have begun regrouping and launched strikes against Houthi positions in Mokha, Dhubab and other areas of Taiz province.
The renewed fighting has displaced more than 80,000 people over the past two weeks, according to the UN, while aid groups report thousands of civilians fleeing their homes in search of safety. The latest Houthi gains have raised concerns that Yemen could slide back into a wider conflict after several years of relative calm.
