Pro-Iran Houthi rebels seized the strategic Red Sea port of Mocha and took control of Zuqar, Hanish Mayor, and Hanish Menor islands on September 10, 2026, according to military sources cited by EFE and reported by Metro Puerto Rico. This rapid offensive along Yemen’s western coast consolidates insurgent dominance near the Bab al Mandeb strait, a crucial maritime chokepoint for international trade.
Houthi Offensive Secures Mocha Port and Red Sea Islands
The military advance extends insurgent control across Yemen’s coastal front. According to EFE, the Houthis captured Mocha hours after completing their takeover of Al Hudeida province following the seizure of the Hays district. From there, rebel forces advanced toward Al Jauja and Mount Al Nar before moving on Mocha from two directions, reaching Yajtal and Mount Al Nar according to military sources. Simultaneously, EFE reported that fighters launched ballistic missile attacks from the mainland and deployed boats to seize Zuqar, Hanish Mayor, and Hanish Menor in the Hanish archipelago. Zuqar, spanning roughly 50.2 square miles between Yemen and Eritrea, previously served as an operational base for naval forces allied with the internationally recognized government after coalition forces recaptured it in 2015. Hanish Mayor, the second-largest island in the 10-island volcanic chain, covers about 25.1 square miles and reaches 1,335 feet in altitude.
Government Forces Reorganize as Ceasefire Collapses
The internationally recognized Yemeni government has not confirmed the loss of Mocha. According to EFE, government officials stated that the military’s coastal withdrawal is part of a planned troop reorganization to mount a coordinated counter-offensive against Houthi positions. A source within the Giants Brigades confirmed to EFE that units retreated from Mocha to Dhubab, situated 50 miles from Bab al Mandab. Dhubab contains a military base and an airstrip utilized by the National Resistance forces, which operate under a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia. This escalation shatters a United Nations-mediated ceasefire established in 2022. The 2014 conflict began when Houthi insurgents seized Sana’a and large regions across central, northern, and western Yemen, prompting Saudi Arabia to intervene militarily the following year in support of the recognized government.
Cross-Border Attacks and Regional Fallout
The coastal clashes coincide with retaliatory strikes across the border. According to EFE, Houthi forces launched drone and missile attacks targeting civil and energy infrastructure across four provinces in southern Saudi Arabia over a two-day period. Saudi aviation periodically targets suspected insurgent positions in response to these cross-border operations. The rapid consolidation of the Hanish archipelago and Mocha places key Red Sea shipping lanes under direct insurgent pressure, threatening global supply chains that traverse the narrow passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Did you know?
The Hanish archipelago, which includes Zuqar and Hanish Mayor, was the subject of a major territorial dispute between Yemen and Eritrea in the mid-1990s. The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in 1998 that the majority of the islands belong to Yemen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who controls the port of Mocha following the recent clashes?
Military sources reported that Houthi rebels took control of Mocha on September 10, 2026, though the internationally recognized Yemeni government has not officially confirmed the city’s fall, describing the military movement as a tactical redeployment.
Which islands did Houthi forces capture in the Red Sea?
According to EFE and Metro Puerto Rico, Houthi fighters seized the islands of Zuqar, Hanish Mayor, and Hanish Menor in the Hanish archipelago following mainland missile strikes and amphibious assaults.
What is the significance of the Bab al Mandeb strait?
The Bab al Mandeb strait is a vital global trade corridor connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, through which a substantial portion of international maritime commerce passes.
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