PNN – The advances made by Yemeni armed forces have drawn the attention of observers and prominent international and Western media outlets.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; reputable Western media—in their reports and analyses—have assessed the Yemeni army’s advances along the country’s west coast, the capture of the strategic port of Mocha, and the movement toward the Bab al-Mandab Strait and Mayun (Perim) Island as a significant and concerning development for the United States and Saudi Arabia.
These media outlets have focused less on the specific details of the fighting on the ground and more on the strategic implications of these advances for global energy security, the standing of Saudi Arabia and the United States, and the regional balance of power.
Guardian Analysis: A “Strategic Disaster” for Saudi Arabia and the US
In a report, The Guardian stated that the seizure of the coastline and certain islands by Houthi (Ansarullah) forces would constitute a “strategic disaster for Saudi Arabia and the US.” According to the newspaper, such a development would bring Iran and its allies closer to gaining full control over two vital maritime chokepoints on either side of the Arabian Peninsula: the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.
The Guardian emphasized that Ansarullah’s objective in advancing along the coast south of Hodeidah is to create new leverage, compelling Saudi Arabia and the US to agree to a deal that would lift the blockade on Iranian oil tankers in the Persian Gulf.
The New York Times: Iran Moves Closer to Controlling Two Chokepoints
The New York Times described the capture of the port of Mocha as a “major victory for an Iranian ally,” noting that the move places the group in a stronger position to threaten shipping along a key global trade route.
Analysts—including Adam Baron of the Washington-based think tank New America—described the area surrounding Mocha and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to the newspaper as “perhaps Yemen’s most valuable strategic real estate.”
They warned that if Ansarullah consolidates control over this territory, both key chokepoints of the Arabian Peninsula—Bab al-Mandab and Hormuz—would fall, at least partially, under the control of Iran and its allies. The newspaper also noted the growing importance of Bab al-Mandab following developments concerning the Strait of Hormuz, reporting that Saudi Arabia has rerouted the bulk of its oil exports through the Red Sea.
CNN: Mayun Island as a Strategic Prize
CNN described Mayun Island (Perim) as a “strategic prize” in the expanding conflict involving Iran. The news network noted that, given Saudi Arabia has shifted its oil exports from the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea, Yemeni control over this small island could enable the blocking of ship traffic through this narrow waterway.
A commander from the forces of Yemen’s ousted government warned CNN that if the Houthis (Ansarullah) were to capture the island and seize control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a “massive international force and naval fleets” would be required to drive them out.
Analysts from the network also pointed to the possibility of the Yemenis mining the strait, noting that long-range weapons would no longer be required to threaten shipping. CNN also reported a significant drop in the flow of oil through this route and warned that Ansarullah’s sustained campaign could cause further disruption.
Reuters: Tremendous Leverage and a Simultaneous Threat to Two Passageways
Reuters emphasized that full control of the Bab al-Mandeb by the Yemenis could grant Iran a “vital advantage” in its confrontation with the United States and cause oil prices to surge by curtailing supplies through this second-most important transit corridor.
Yemeni sources told Reuters that controlling Dhubab and Perim Island (Mayun) is the key to dominating the strait. Analysts warned that Yemeni control over this waterway would further isolate Gulf oil producers from their primary shipping routes.
In other reports, security experts such as Andreas Krieg of King’s College London identified the “main risk” not necessarily as the physical closure of the strait, but rather as the “persistent uncertainty” that reduces Suez traffic, imposes heavy costs on Egypt, and increases the time and expense of Europe-Asia trade.
Financial Times: Leverage over Energy Prices
The Financial Times described the capture of the port of Mocha as a significant blow to Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni forces it backs, noting that it strengthens Iran’s position in maintaining pressure on global energy prices.
Ahmed Nagi, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, told the newspaper that the Houthis (Ansarullah) had long prepared for this battle and regard the coast as their “most important strategic front”; they believe that controlling the coastline enables them to impose their demands on the Saudis while simultaneously providing strong support for their backer, Iran.
Farea Al-Muslimi also warned that Iran now effectively controls two of the world’s key straits, a situation that reflects a “persistent underestimation of Houthi capabilities since 2014.”
Al Jazeera: A Turning Point in the War
Focusing on both the situation on the ground and the humanitarian aspects, Al Jazeera described the capture of Mocha as a “turning point” in the Yemen war. Defense analyst Wolfgang Pusztai warned about the future of the Saudi-backed forces loyal to Yemen’s resigned government, stating that this event could lead to the “collapse of government forces in southern Yemen,” as the port of Mocha was the last port fully controlled by this Saudi-aligned group.
He added that controlling the port would enable Ansarullah to cut off the road leading to Taiz and deal a heavy blow to the resigned government.
Al Jazeera also highlighted the severing of vital supply lines for anti-Ansarullah forces, including the Muka-Taiz road and port routes. Analysts for the network emphasized that the Yemenis can now assert control over the strait using simple artillery—not necessarily missiles or drones.
CNBC: Upward Trend in Oil Prices
Citing Hamish Kinnear, a senior Middle East analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, CNBC reported that the capture of Muka deals a “major blow” to Saudi Arabia and opens the possibility of further advances toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, potentially allowing for tighter control over this strategic chokepoint.
Strategists at ING also warned that Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure and its crude oil exports via the Red Sea are increasingly at risk, noting that recent events have heightened threats to shipping around the Bab al-Mandeb. They predicted that oil prices—particularly for refined products like diesel—would maintain their upward trajectory as long as both sides (Iran and the U.S.) perceive time to be working in their favor.
Euro news: Resistance Forces Control One-Third of Global Maritime Trade
Noting the arrival of Yemeni army forces on Mayun Island—which divides the strait into two shipping channels—Euro news described the move as “significant,” placing the Yemenis in a position to control one of the most vital trade routes between Asia and Europe.
The outlet emphasized that with the Yemenis’ control of this island, combined with Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, approximately one-third of global maritime trade falls under the control of Iran and its allies.
Summary of Western Analyses
Western media outlets generally view these advances as part of a broader Iranian strategy to exert simultaneous pressure on two global energy chokepoints. They believe that, given the Bab al-Mandeb’s new role as an alternative route for Saudi oil exports following disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz, any consolidation of Ansarullah’s control over the coastline and islands could further destabilize energy markets, drive up oil prices, and place additional strain on U.S. military resources already engaged on the Iran front.