Houthis-ka 'Dhaqaale-ka Qarsoon' ayaa ku dhawaaqay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya
Houthis-ka ayaa ku dhawaaqay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya, iyagoo sheegay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya, iyagoo sheegay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya.
Houthis-ka ayaa ku dhawaaqay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya
Houthis-ka ayaa ku dhawaaqay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya, iyagoo sheegay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya, iyagoo sheegay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya.
Houthis-ka ayaa ku dhawaaqay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya, iyagoo sheegay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya, iyagoo sheegay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya.
Houthis-ka ayaa ku dhawaaqay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya
Houthis-ka ayaa ku dhawaaqay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya, iyagoo sheegay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya, iyagoo sheegay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya.
Houthis-ka ayaa ku dhawaaqay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya, iyagoo sheegay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya, iyagoo sheegay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya.
Houthis-ka ayaa ku dhawaaqay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya
Houthis-ka ayaa ku dhawaaqay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya, iyagoo sheegay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya, iyagoo sheegay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya.
Houthis-ka ayaa ku dhawaaqay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya, iyagoo sheegay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya, iyagoo sheegay inay ka joojiyeen badeecada Soomaaliya.
The Houthis captured the port city of Mokha and the island of Perim in mid-September 2026, granting them near-total control of Yemen's Red Sea coastline and placing Saudi Arabia in a precarious position as the United States declined to intervene militarily.
Strategic Gains and Escalation
After a lightning assault in mid-September 2026, the Houthis seized Mokha and Perim, giving them almost complete control of Yemen's Red Sea coastline and putting them within firing range of vessels navigating the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The group had previously announced a blockade of ships carrying Saudi exports in July, and quickly moved to exploit their new strategic advantage by firing at Saudi oil facilities on September 8 and tankers attempting to pass through the narrow waterway.
The escalation continued as the Houthis targeted fuel tanks near the Saudi capital's international airport and energy sites along the Red Sea coast. An attack on Saudi Arabia's east-west pipeline, blamed on Iran-backed militias in Iraq, sent shockwaves through the Middle East and rattled global markets, prompting economists to warn that the disruption could severely impact oil prices worldwide.
US Reluctance and Saudi Appeals
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly called US President Donald Trump on September 17 to implore him for military assistance, but the planned strikes were called off at the 11th hour. Military commanders were locked and loaded with approved target lists as troops loaded bombs onto aircraft, yet Trump decided there would be no US action 'for now', leaving him in a bind with the powerful kingdom.
Saudi Arabia has turned to other countries, including France and Egypt, for help, but only the UK has agreed to provide defensive air support. The kingdom had also signed a security pact with Turkey and Pakistan just weeks before the Houthi escalation, highlighting its growing isolation as it faces an increasingly assertive rebel group backed by Iran.
Global Economic Ramifications
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical gateway to the Red Sea, has seen a dramatic decline in oil transit, with barrels of crude oil and petroleum liquids crossing the strait per day dropping from 9 million in 2023 to about 4.2 million in 2025. Analysts warn that the Houthis' actions could further disrupt exports, making it more difficult to transport oil from the west coast of Saudi Arabia to Asia and Australia.
Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi declared in a televised speech that 'Saudi arrogance is unacceptable and the Saudi regime is an occupying power', reflecting the group's desire to end all Saudi involvement in Yemen. The Houthis claim their actions are a response to Saudi Arabia's own 'unjust blockade on shipping traffic to and from Yemen', adding a layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict.
Ilaha iyo xuquuqda sawirka
Sawir: ABC Australia Xigasho
