Houthi forces completed their takeover of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline and key islands including Perim (Mayyun) in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait around September 10–12, 2026, giving them direct control over both shores and the narrowest channels. This territorial shift followed a July 2026 blockade declaration targeting Saudi-linked shipping amid the broader Iran-related conflict that has already curtailed Strait of Hormuz traffic. Commercial transits have fallen sharply—tanker volumes often 40–70% below prior averages—with many operators rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope due to missile and drone threats, elevated war-risk insurance, and AIS-dark sailings. No government or maritime authority has issued a formal closure notice, and limited vessel movements continue, though Saudi pipeline flows to Yanbu and Red Sea loadings remain heavily disrupted. Ongoing Houthi-Saudi exchanges and UN warnings of volatility keep the risk environment elevated, with any further escalation or international naval response likely to influence whether traffic effectively halts.