Houthi Advance in the southern Red Sea has taken a new turn after the Houthi movement announced on 14 September 2026 that it had seized Greater Hanish and Lesser Hanish islands. The islands are located around 160 kilometres north of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a major maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The reported move comes after earlier Houthi advances around Mokha and Perim Island, also known as Mayun Island.

Hanish Islands Gain Strategic Importance

The Hanish islands are part of an archipelago in the southern Red Sea, close to Yemen and the important shipping route between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Greater Hanish is the largest island in the group, while Lesser Hanish is another important island in the archipelago. Their location gives them strategic value because of their proximity to major sea routes.

Control of islands in this area can provide military and surveillance advantages. It can also increase the importance of the Hanish archipelago in the wider security situation around Yemen and the Red Sea.

The latest Houthi Advance therefore has significance beyond the islands themselves, particularly because of their position near one of the world’s busiest maritime routes.

Bab al-Mandeb Strait at the Centre

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and provides an important sea passage towards the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Large numbers of commercial vessels and energy shipments use routes through the wider region. Ships travelling between Europe and Asia often use the Red Sea and the Suez Canal route, making security around Bab al-Mandeb important for international trade.

Perim Island, or Mayun Island, sits within the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Its location has long given it military and maritime importance.

The Houthi presence on or near strategic islands could therefore affect calculations by countries seeking to protect commercial shipping in the region.

Earlier Houthi Gains Along the Coast

The announcement regarding Greater Hanish and Lesser Hanish follows reports of earlier Houthi advances around Mokha and Perim Island.

Mokha is a coastal location on Yemen’s western side overlooking the Red Sea. Its position near shipping routes makes it strategically important in the Yemen conflict.

Perim Island is even closer to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. A stronger Houthi presence across coastal and island positions could increase the group’s ability to monitor or threaten maritime movement in the area.

These developments have added to concerns about the security of vessels using the Red Sea and nearby waters.

Yemen Conflict Continues

Yemen has faced years of conflict involving the Houthi movement, government-aligned forces and other armed groups. The conflict has repeatedly affected the country’s coastal areas and created wider regional security concerns.

The latest fighting has also caused significant displacement. Reports indicate that nearly 94,000 people have been displaced since early September 2026 as fighting and territorial changes continue.

The Houthi movement has received support from Iran, making developments in Yemen part of the wider strategic competition in the Middle East.

The group’s growing presence along coastal areas is closely watched because Yemen’s coastline faces some of the world’s most important shipping routes.

Impact on Red Sea Shipping

The Houthi Advance has raised further concerns about commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The group has previously targeted or threatened vessels in the region during the wider Middle East crisis.

Shipping companies have responded to security risks by changing routes or taking additional precautions in some circumstances. Longer alternative routes can increase travel time, fuel costs and transportation expenses.

The Red Sea is particularly important because it provides a shorter connection between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.

Any prolonged disruption in the region could therefore have an effect on global supply chains and shipping costs.

Saudi Arabia and Energy Routes

The security situation also matters to Saudi Arabia, which has important energy infrastructure and shipping routes along the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia has the East-West oil pipeline, which allows crude oil to move from the country’s eastern oil-producing areas towards the Red Sea. The route provides an alternative export path that can reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz for some shipments.

Security risks around the Red Sea can therefore have wider implications for regional energy transport.

The Hanish islands’ location places the latest development within the broader network of routes that connect the Middle East’s energy infrastructure with international markets.

Djibouti’s Strategic Location

The area around Bab al-Mandeb also includes Djibouti, located on the African side of the strait. Djibouti’s position has made it an important location for international military and maritime operations.

Several countries maintain military facilities or security arrangements in and around Djibouti because of its proximity to the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and major shipping routes.

The Hanish islands are therefore part of a wider strategic environment involving Yemen, the Horn of Africa and international naval forces.

Wider Regional Security Concerns

The Houthi Advance comes at a time when tensions across the Middle East remain high. The Red Sea has become an important security focus because of attacks on commercial vessels, international naval operations and concerns about disruptions to global trade.

Control of additional coastal and island positions could provide the Houthis with greater strategic depth. It could also make efforts to secure maritime routes more complicated.

For shipping companies and governments, the key concern remains whether the latest territorial developments will lead to increased threats against commercial vessels or further changes in maritime traffic across the southern Red Sea.