September 11, 2026 : The Houthi movement has claimed full control of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline following an 18-hour military operation targeting the last remaining stretch of the coast under government forces, according to an Al Jazeera report published Friday, citing its correspondent on the ground.
Houthi fighters reportedly encountered only limited resistance as they advanced southward, as government forces had already withdrawn from Mokha. The group first captured Dubab before seizing Murad, described as the last coastal town in the area still under the control of government forces.
After securing the coastal territory, the Houthis’ naval forces moved further into the Red Sea. They captured Mayyun Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and entered Zucal Island, where fighting between the two sides is reportedly continuing.
The developments would give the Houthis control over a strategically important stretch of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline and positions near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major maritime passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
Source: Al Jazeera