Houthis tighten control of key Red Sea shipping lanes

Photo — Doğan Alpaslan Demir / Pexels

According to leading international outlets, Houthi forces in Yemen have captured the strategic Greater and Lesser Hanish islands and are consolidating control over waters near the Bab al‑Mandab strait, one of the world’s key maritime choke points linking the Red Sea to global shipping routes.[6][8] This move comes amid a broader pattern of attacks and threats to energy infrastructure and shipping in and around the Red Sea and adjacent sea lanes, raising concerns about potential disruptions to oil exports, higher fuel prices, and cascading effects on global trade and supply chains.[3][4][6] The reported Houthi advance follows months of regional tension involving Iran‑aligned groups and Gulf states, and takes place against a backdrop of already elevated borrowing costs and market anxiety over energy security, which analysts warn could be exacerbated if shipping risks force rerouting or delays of major commodity flows.[1][4][6][10] Governments and international organizations are closely monitoring the situation, with heightened naval presence and calls for secure navigation in nearby waters, while diplomats seek to prevent further escalation that could destabilize the wider Middle East and impact economies far beyond the region.[3][4][6]

Sources: The Guardian, BBC News, Reuters, Al Jazeera, News18