Houthi forces swiftly seize Yemen's western coast up to Bab al-Mandab

Between early September and early October, Iran-backed Houthi forces executed a swift campaign that seized the entire western coast of Yemen, culminating at the Bab al-Mandab strait at the southern tip of the Red Sea. The area had long been held by the internationally recognized government, bolstered by Saudi and Emirati investments and equipped with fortified positions, modern vehicles, and air-defense systems. The Houthi advance overturned a previous 2017 setback and forced a reevaluation of the anti-Houthi coalition's tactics.

Control of the strait gives the rebels a direct threat to international navigation routes. The development marks a significant shift in a twelve-year conflict, highlighting vulnerabilities within the coalition that had relied on regional allies until the United Arab Emirates withdrew in January 2026.