Houthis Take Control of Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Yemen’s government forces have withdrawn from the area around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, leaving the Houthis in control of one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. The Southern Armed Forces announced the redeployment on Sunday, saying their units were pulling back from Dhubab Airport and the Bab el-Mandeb area, west of Taiz Governorate.
The forces said the move was taken to secure Aden, where Yemen’s internationally recognised government is based, and to strengthen front lines in nearby governorates. The Houthis already control much of the north, including the capital Sanaa and the country’s most populous areas.
The withdrawal hands the Houthis greater control over the narrow strait, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Ships carrying goods and energy between Asia and Europe pass through it on their way to Egypt’s Suez Canal. Any threat to the route pushes up shipping costs and delays cargo.
Why the Bab el-Mandeb Strait matters
Bab el-Mandeb is one of the world’s most important chokepoints for seaborne trade. Tankers, container ships and bulk carriers use it daily. A closure or sustained threat would force vessels onto the far longer route around Africa, adding weeks to voyages and raising fuel and insurance costs.
The retreat comes as Iran disrupts traffic through the Strait of Hormuz on the other side of the Arabian Peninsula. Together, the two pressures squeeze Gulf oil producers from both of their main shipping routes. Iran’s navy has claimed that tankers struck mines in the strait, and three oil tankers caught fire there.
Houthis pressed south after September advance
Government forces launched a military campaign in October to recapture strategic coastal areas from the Houthis. The group had pushed south in September in an attempt to seize Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast. The lightning offensive brought the Houthis within reach of Bab el-Mandeb.
The Houthis have also stepped up strikes on Saudi airports, ports and oil facilities. On Sunday, the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted two Houthi ballistic missiles launched towards Riyadh and three drones in the Eastern Province. A Houthi attack last week damaged an administrative building of Saudi Aramco in Riyadh’s financial hub, and the company’s headquarters suffered extensive damage in an attack in October.
On Saturday, the coalition said its air defences intercepted and destroyed two Houthi drones targeting Riyadh and southern regions, as Feature Pakistan reported. Saudi Arabia has ramped up airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response.
What it means for Pakistan
Pakistan has a direct stake in both straits staying open. The country imports most of its oil and gas from Gulf producers, and its trade with Europe moves through the Suez Canal and Bab el-Mandeb. Higher shipping and insurance costs feed into fuel prices and the price of imported goods at home, a pressure Pakistan has felt since the war began, as Feature Pakistan reported.
Millions of Pakistanis also live and work in the Gulf. Their safety and their remittances, one of Pakistan’s largest sources of foreign exchange, depend on the region staying stable.
Pakistan has pressed for a diplomatic way out. At the UN Security Council on Friday, Pakistan’s envoy Syed Haider Shah called for an end to military provocations in the Gulf and urged dialogue to protect civilians and shipping.
What happens next
The Houthis now hold the ground overlooking the strait, and the government has shifted its forces to defend Aden. Whether the Houthis try to close the waterway or use it as a bargaining chip in talks will shape shipping costs in the weeks ahead.
For now, the dual squeeze on Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb leaves Gulf exporters with little room. If either route shuts for long, Pakistan and other importers will feel it in fuel prices first.
Frequently asked questions
What happened at Bab el-Mandeb?
Yemen’s government forces withdrew from Dhubab Airport and the Bab el-Mandeb area, leaving the Houthis in control of the strait.
Why does the strait matter?
It links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and carries shipping between Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal.
How did the Houthis reach the strait?
They pushed south in September to seize Yemen’s Red Sea coast, and the government’s October campaign to retake the coast did not hold them back.
What else is happening in the region?
The Saudi-led coalition intercepted Houthi missiles aimed at Riyadh and drones in the Eastern Province on Sunday, while Iran has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Why does it matter for Pakistan?
Pakistan imports Gulf oil and trades with Europe through the Suez Canal, so threats to either strait can raise fuel prices and shipping costs at home.
