UPDATED Sep 18, 2026 at 7:09 AM ET
Sep 10, 2026 at 10:06 AM ET
Iran-backed Houthi rebels captured Mayun, a small volcanic island inside the Bab el-Mandeb strait at the southern Red Sea entrance, and also took Yemen’s port of Mokha. The gains threaten shipping through one of the world’s key lanes, with Saudi Arabia striking the Mokha airport and reporting no reported deaths or damage.
WHO: Iran-backed Houthi rebels; Yemen’s internationally recognized government; Houthi officials; Saudi Arabia
WHAT: Houthi rebels seized Mayun island and captured the port of Mokha; Saudi Arabia struck the Mokha airport.
WHEN: Reported Sep 11, 2026 at 1:40 AM ET
WHERE: Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Yemen
WHY: The article links the territorial gains to increased pressure on the United States and potential impacts on Saudi oil exports by threatening a key Red Sea shipping lane.
