Houthi advances threaten shipping in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait

Houthi rebels extended their control along the Red Sea coastline to the strategically important Perim Island at the end of September, but have since been pushed back by the Yemeni government. Shipping through the choke point has been compromised since the Iran-backed group started attacking vessels in 2023, when the Gaza war began. These attacks have increased since July and Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline has also come under attack.

Note: Houthi area of control as of October 14, 2026. Crude oil and liquid petroleum volume data is for the first half of 2025. Typical tanker traffic is an approximation based on tanker shipping density data from September 2024.

Sources: Global Energy Monitor (Global Oil Infrastructure Tracker), Global Maritime Traffic, US Energy Information Administration, The Institute for the Study of War and AEI’s Critical Threats Project, Global Fishing Watch

Graphic: Amy O'Kruk, Lou Robinson and Becky Pinnington, CNN