This report covers major security developments in the region, including the seizure of a vital strait and attacks on oil infrastructure. Here are the key updates: Iran-backed Houthi forces seized control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait between September 11 and 12, 2026. Drones from Iraq struck Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline, and oil prices have risen above $100 per barrel.
In a 48-hour escalation between September 11 and 12, 2026, Iran-backed Houthi forces seized control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, effectively securing the Red Sea's southern maritime gateway. Following a rapid advance across the Tihama coastal plain, Houthi columns captured the port of Mocha on Thursday. By Friday, Houthi fighters landed on Mayun, also known as Perim Island, after government defenders withdrew from the strategic volcanic island located in the center of the shipping lane. Satellite imagery provided by Planet Labs and Copernicus confirmed the capture.
Simultaneously, drones launched from Iraq's Maysan province struck Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions on Thursday. The attacks caused fires at pumping stations, leading Saudi authorities to preemptively shut the pipeline, which holds a capacity exceeding 5 million barrels per day. The Saudi Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes, reporting civilian injuries, while the Iraqi government has fired its provincial commander and launched an investigation. Earlier in the week, Houthi drones and missiles targeted the Saudi cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Najran, and Jazan, resulting in 73 civilian injuries and damage to oil infrastructure. These attacks were condemned by the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, and the GCC.
According to reports citing CNN, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman requested U.S. air support twice on Thursday during the fall of Mocha, but President Trump declined to provide direct strikes or refuel Saudi jets. While over 100 American advisers remain in Saudi Arabia, hundreds of IRGC officers are reportedly embedded with Houthi forces. Iranian President Pezeshkian, speaking at a BRICS summit, linked the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to an end of the U.S. naval blockade and proposed an Oman-brokered shipping corridor to be discussed in Muscat on Monday. Regional energy infrastructure continues to face significant pressure, with the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman reporting strikes since February. Notably, the UAE has faced thousands of projectiles, Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG complex has been hit, and Oman’s Duqm facility has been targeted. Global oil prices have subsequently risen above $100 per barrel. The conflict has displaced nearly 50,000 civilians from Yemen's west coast, while Houthis continue to advance toward Dhubab and the Hanish islands. Sources for these developments include the Associated Press, Reuters, CNN, the BBC, the Saudi Energy and Foreign Ministries, the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, and various Houthi and Yemeni government statements.
