Houthi forces have consolidated control over Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including Mokha port and Perim Island at the narrowest section of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, following advances in September 2026. This has enabled a declared blockade targeting Saudi-linked shipping since July, with several confirmed strikes on tankers that reduced Saudi crude transits by roughly half and overall vessel passages by 15–47% from pre-crisis baselines. Traffic persists at lower volumes, with recent daily averages around 29–36 transits and partial recovery in container services, though war-risk premiums remain elevated and ISPS security level 3 is in force. Saudi-backed Yemeni government counteroffensives in early October produced contested territorial claims near the strait without verified reversal of Houthi positions. No authority has declared the waterway closed, and the situation hinges on whether Houthi maritime operations expand beyond calibrated targeting or ground fighting alters control of chokepoint approaches.