Houthis Seize Red Sea Islands, Attack Saudi Air Base

In September 2026, Yemen's Houthi rebels seized several strategic islands in the southern Red Sea and launched attacks into Saudi Arabia, including what they described as a major strike on a Saudi air base. The islands lie near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a key route for global shipping.

The Houthis said the captures tighten their control over the shipping lane. Yemeni forces counterattacked west of Taiz after the Red Sea setbacks. Saudi Arabia, which has led a coalition against the Houthis, has not commented on the base attack.