Houthi forces advanced to Perim Island on Friday, September 11, 2026, positioning the group to potentially control the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This strategic waterway at the mouth of the Red Sea serves as a primary corridor for global trade and energy shipments. The offensive occurs during the seventh month of a military conflict between the United States and Iran, which has already led to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
The advance creates a new challenge for the administration of President Donald Trump as Saudi Arabia seeks military assistance to secure its oil export routes. Saudi Arabia moved much of its shipping to Red Sea ports after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed earlier in the war. According to three sources, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman requested U.S. military help during a phone call with Trump on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
Trump confirmed the call on Saturday, September 12, stating he told the Crown Prince that the U.S. would share intelligence but would not take direct military action at this time. The president also reported that the Houthis contacted his administration to request that Washington remain uninvolved. While a senior administration official stated U.S. munitions stockpiles are sufficient for all strategic goals, analysts noted that a new mission could strain resources already committed to the conflict with Iran.
Military analysts indicate that U.S. intervention would require significant naval and aerial resources to pinpoint Houthi positions that have shifted over the last year. Such an engagement would effectively void a previous agreement in which the U.S. ceased bombing the Houthis in exchange for a halt to strikes on Red Sea shipping. A resumption of direct conflict could expose U.S. Navy vessels to missile attacks from Yemen and further deplete stockpiles of air-defense interceptors.
The immediate situation remains focused on whether the U.S. will maintain its current policy of intelligence sharing or pivot toward direct intervention. Former U.S. envoy Tim Lenderking suggested the administration may need to increase material support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government to counter the Houthi advance. The Iranian foreign ministry called for dialogue on Thursday, September 10, stating the conflict cannot be resolved through blockades or military action, though the ministry did not address its own involvement in the regional war.