Yemeni Houthis Continue Advance, Capture Two More Red Sea Islands
Mian Nadeem | Published September 14, 2026 | 07:09 PM
The continued retreat of forces supporting Yemen’s exiled government and Ansarullah’s growing presence in the Red Sea are raising fears of a major blow to global trade.
SANAA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 14th Sep, 2026) The advance of the Houthi group Ansarullah, which controls large parts of Yemen, is continuing, with the group capturing the strategically important Greater Hanish and Lesser Hanish islands in the southern Red Sea.
According to AP, two officials from the exiled government and one Houthi official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said hundreds of government-aligned troops had retreated. Forces operating under the exiled government council abandoned the islands and withdrew after clashes with the Houthis, who subsequently took control of them.
The Hanish Islands are located approximately 160 kilometers north of Bab al-Mandab and occupy a highly important geographic position for shipping in the Red Sea. The report said control of the two islands could give the Houthis an opportunity to further expand their military and naval presence in the southern Red Sea and near Bab al-Mandab.
Meanwhile, Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces are attempting to reorganize their ranks and resist after the Houthis made rapid advances in western coastal areas. The Houthi rebels have recently expanded their control over several key locations in Yemen’s western coastal region. They had already captured Zuqar Island in the Red Sea.
The Houthis’ growing control around the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab could put further pressure on global oil supplies and prices. It is also being suggested that the situation could give Iran an additional strategic advantage during its ongoing war with the United States and the regional tensions.
Arab political analysts and experts said Saudi officials were engaged in contacts through back channels. However, because of their strong position, the Houthis want negotiations on their own terms. Their first condition is the end of all air, land and naval blockades, after which the terms for negotiations could be settled.
They said Riyadh had no option left and would have to acknowledge the ground realities and sit at the negotiating table with the Houthis. According to them, the exiled government council has practically no authority or control in Yemen, while some tribal groups are supplied with weapons and money and described as “government forces.” Experts said that if the Houthis made those groups a better offer than the Saudi-backed exiled government council, they would hand over the remaining areas to them. They said Yemenis are nationalists and could unite at any opportunity.
According to analysts, thousands of lives have been lost and billions of Dollars have been lost over 11 years. Despite this, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have failed to achieve their objectives. Saudi Arabia and the entire middle East are facing severe consequences.
