Trump Says Houthis Allow Most Ships Through Bab al-Mandeb as US Avoids New Yemen Front
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Sep 17
Trump Says Houthis Allow Most Ships Through Bab al-Mandeb as US Avoids New Yemen Front
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Sep 17
Summary
Dublin remarks on Sept. 12 put Trump on record saying the Houthis had contacted Washington, did not want a fight with the US and were allowing most ships to pass.
Those comments came after Houthi forces completed their takeover of Dhubab and Perim Island at Bab al-Mandeb, extending control after seizing Mocha and gaining direct leverage over a key shipping chokepoint.
Washington’s restraint reflects a narrow priority order: keep focus on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, where Trump said about 25 ships pass daily, while avoiding another military front in Yemen before congressional elections.
Saudi Arabia got reassurance but no explicit US military guarantee, even as Houthi pressure has cut its oil exports to Asia from about 3.4 million barrels a day in June to 128,000 in August before a partial recovery.
With oil above $107 a barrel and Bab al-Mandeb and Hormuz both under strain, the episode underscores a broader shift toward more selective US Gulf security commitments.
With Washington stepping back, can a new Saudi-led coalition truly secure the world's most critical oil chokepoint against Houthi control?
Is the Houthi promise of safe passage a genuine diplomatic breakthrough or a tactical bluff to consolidate power over the Red Sea?
As Houthis blockade Saudi oil, how will Asian markets survive the crippling delays and skyrocketing freight costs of rerouted global trade?
Yemen’s 2026 Red Sea Offensive: How Houthi Gains and Iran’s Dual-Chokepoint Strategy Sparked a Global Shipping and Refugee Crisis
Overview
In September 2026, Iran-backed Houthi forces launched a rapid offensive along Yemen’s western coast, capturing key locations like Mocha, Dhubab, and Mayyun Island. This gave them control over vital Red Sea shipping lanes, threatening global maritime traffic and forcing major shipping companies to reroute vessels around Africa, which increased costs and caused a sharp drop in Suez Canal revenue for Egypt. The conflict triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, with over 100,000 people displaced in Yemen and thousands of refugees fleeing to Djibouti, overwhelming local capacity. Meanwhile, the security vacuum off the Horn of Africa led to a resurgence of Somali piracy, further destabilizing the region.