What happened in this Geopolitics story?

Iran-backed Houthis have captured roughly 130km of Yemen's Red Sea coastline in days, giving Tehran direct or proxy control over two of the world's most strategic oil shipping chokepoints and leaving the Trump administration reluctant to open another military front.

What is a key fact in this story? (1)

**Houthis** captured approximately 130km of Yemen's Red Sea coastline from the anti-Houthi National Resistance coalition in a matter of days — their most significant military advance in years despite 12 years of civil war and strikes by US, Israeli, and British forces.

What is a key fact in this story? (2)

**Iran** now controls (directly or through proxies) two key maritime chokepoints — the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab — covering more than 35% of global fuel and oil trade, according to Chatham House research fellow Farea al-Muslimi, who called it 'as much leverage as a nuclear bomb.'

📎 SkimNews has covered Houthis 75+ times · see the file →

Houthi Red Sea advance gives Iran grip on two oil chokepoints — SkimNews

By BBC World · Summarized & edited by Kapil Samant · 2026-09-11

Get the Geopolitics newsletter

Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.

Houthis captured approximately 130km of Yemen's Red Sea coastline from the anti-Houthi National Resistance coalition in a matter of days — their most significant military advance in years despite 12 years of civil war and strikes by US, Israeli, and British forces.
Iran now controls (directly or through proxies) two key maritime chokepoints — the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab — covering more than 35% of global fuel and oil trade, according to Chatham House research fellow Farea al-Muslimi, who called it 'as much leverage as a nuclear bomb.'
Houthis may have seized Red Sea islands including Perim at the narrowest point of the Bab al-Mandab, giving them greater leverage over international shipping than during their earlier Red Sea campaign, per Yemen expert Iona Craig.
Satellite imagery shows Houthi missile-and-drone strikes on Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline — a vital alternative oil export route after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz earlier this year.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has appealed for US intervention, but the Trump administration is working to intensify support for Riyadh while avoiding direct military involvement, according to Axios.
The escalation traces to July, when a Houthi delegation returned from the state funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — after which fighting intensified sharply, per RUSI researcher Baraa Shaiban.

Why it matters: The Houthis now hold positions overlooking the Bab al-Mandab after Iran's proxy setbacks elsewhere redirected Tehran's backing here — Saudi Arabia loses a critical alternative to Hormuz, and with oil already past $100 per barrel and midmonths approaching, Trump has little appetite for another military front before voters weigh in.