Houthi forces now hold Yemen’s port city of Mokha and have reached the island of Perim, also known as Mayun, at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The territorial gains, among the group’s largest in years, place them in a position to exert direct influence over the Bab Al Mandeb Strait, the waterway connecting the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
The operational consequence is immediate. Global shipping operators, already managing restricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz due to the US-Iran conflict, now face uncertainty at two critical junctions simultaneously. Where the economic pressure had previously concentrated on a single chokepoint, it now spans both ends of the Arabian Peninsula’s maritime corridor.
Additional reference context is available at https://gulfnews.com/uae/us-iran-conflict-what-uae-residents-need-to-know-tonight-september-11-1.500671325.
Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on Red Sea export routes as an alternative to Hormuz transit, making the Houthi seizure of Mokha and Perim particularly consequential for regional energy flows. Yemeni government forces have signalled their intention to retake the captured areas. For now, the Houthis hold these positions and control access to Bab Al Mandeb.
Shipping data reflects the mounting constraints. Preliminary vessel tracking showed only seven ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, down from 11 the previous day and below a 10-day average of 10. US Central Command reported that its blockade operations had redirected 96 commercial vessels as of September 10, while more than 50 vessels carrying humanitarian assistance had been permitted to pass.
Meanwhile, oil markets responded sharply to the dual-route pressure. Brent crude settled at $107.63 a barrel on Thursday following a surge exceeding 6 percent, while US West Texas Intermediate closed at $102.48. The spike reflected renewed attacks on shipping combined with the Houthi seizure of Mokha, layering Red Sea supply concerns atop existing Hormuz anxieties. Prices eased somewhat on Friday but remained on course to finish the week above $100 a barrel.
Military developments this week have added further strain to the region’s operational environment. CBS News, citing people with direct knowledge, reported that during Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, one US A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft was struck and lost a wing. Approximately eight F-15 fighter jets sustained lighter damage and returned to service. No US deaths were reported. US forces fired more than 30 Patriot interceptor missiles during the attack. Jordan’s air defences had previously stated they intercepted 18 of 20 ballistic missiles launched toward its territory, with the remaining two falling in unpopulated areas. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the Iranian missile attack on Jordan, describing it as a violation of Jordanian sovereignty and reiterating the UAE’s full solidarity with the Kingdom.
Diplomatic channels remain active despite the escalation. Gulf foreign ministers are expected to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Salalah, Oman, on Monday as part of efforts to secure a temporary arrangement for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Financial Times. The arrangement under discussion would allow vessels to enter the strait through Iranian waters and exit largely through Omani waters. Such an arrangement would require support from Gulf states, while a permanent reopening of the waterway would depend on a broader agreement between Washington and Tehran.
South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun spoke with Araghchi on Friday regarding security and freedom of navigation through Hormuz. Seoul has stated it has not decided whether to deploy forces to support maritime security efforts.
US President Donald Trump indicated the conflict could continue for weeks. Speaking to Fox News, Trump said he did not regret launching the war and would make the same decision again, arguing that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remained his objective. He suggested the conflict could end after the US midterm elections in November, claiming Iran is attempting to influence the vote. Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful.
For UAE air travel, operations continue with selected service disruptions. Etihad’s Bahrain and Kuwait services are largely operating, while Emirates flights to both destinations are scheduled. flydubai has cancelled selected Bahrain and Kuwait services, while Air Arabia has cancelled some flights from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi to the two countries. Several flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi experienced delays on Friday, including some for technical or operational reasons. International carriers including Air France, KLM, British Airways and Air Canada maintain suspended or restricted UAE services. Passengers should verify flight status directly with their airline before travelling to the airport.
The diplomatic meeting in Oman on Monday will be the first concrete test of whether a workable shipping arrangement can be assembled quickly enough to ease pressure on operators already rerouting cargo around two compromised straits. Whether the Houthi positions around Bab Al Mandeb hold, and whether Gulf states can reach terms with Tehran, will determine how much longer the global shipping system absorbs disruption at both ends of the corridor.