Houthi forces in Yemen have seized control of portions of the country's Red Sea coastline and strategic islands near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, according to regional officials and analysts. The advance provides the Iran-aligned group with a second pressure point over global energy routes, supplementing Iran’s existing influence over the Strait of Hormuz. Following attacks on energy infrastructure, Saudi Arabia closed a major oil pipeline on Friday, September 11, 2026, which had been used to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
The Houthi movement captured the port city of Mocha on Thursday, September 10, 2026. This territorial gain follows years of conflict, including a Saudi-led intervention that began in 2015 after the group seized Sanaa in 2014. The recent capture of the coastline and islands allows the group to threaten shipping through Bab el-Mandeb, a vital artery for global trade and oil exports.
Foreign ministers from several Gulf nations are scheduled to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Oman on Monday, September 14, 2026. According to a Gulf source, the meeting will include representatives from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Iraq, with a Western diplomat adding that Kuwait will also attend. The talks are aimed at establishing a temporary mechanism for managing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and potentially discussing longer-term security arrangements.
The Houthi advance affects global energy markets and the economic stability of Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait. By securing positions overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the Houthis now possess leverage over a shipping route that carries a significant portion of the world's trade. The closure of the Saudi pipeline on September 11, 2026, reportedly threatens the loss of 4% of the global oil supply. Disruption to energy flows is intended to raise oil prices and fuel inflation, potentially increasing the cost of fuel and consumer goods.
The shift toward diplomacy with Tehran indicates a change in regional strategy for Gulf states. With U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly declining a Saudi request for military strikes against the Houthis, regional leaders are weighing whether to absorb mounting economic costs or seek accommodation with Iran. A Gulf source noted that any agreement reached during the Monday meetings would still require the U.S. and Iran to agree on confidence-building measures and sanctions within the framework of a June interim memorandum of understanding (MOU).
What happens next depends on the outcome of the Oman meeting on Monday, September 14, 2026. If the attending foreign ministers agree on a temporary mechanism for Hormuz, the process must then move through the established MOU framework involving Washington and Tehran. Additionally, Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to meet in Rome in October, according to a U.S. State Department official. In the immediate term, market analysts are monitoring oil prices, which were reported to be over $100 for the first time in nearly four months as of September 11, 2026.