Yemen’s Houthi forces have captured the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands in the southern Red Sea, strengthening their position around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and raising fresh concerns over maritime security and commercial shipping.
The latest advance follows the group’s seizure of Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Mocha and the strategic Mayun Island. Together, these gains give the Houthis greater control over positions near the southern gateway to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
Shipping Security Concerns
The Bab el-Mandeb is a critical maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Greater Houthi control of nearby islands could provide additional positions from which shipping could potentially be monitored or targeted, increasing security concerns for vessel operators.
The developments are particularly significant for energy shipments, as Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on Red Sea routes as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz amid the wider regional crisis.
Red Sea Route Faces Fresh Uncertainty
The latest territorial gains come as major container carriers are cautiously restoring services through the Suez Canal. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, for example, have announced additional services through the canal, while stressing that future decisions will depend on regional stability.
Further escalation around the Bab el-Mandeb could complicate those plans, potentially affecting vessel routing, insurance costs, transit times and supply-chain reliability on the Asia-Europe trade corridor.