Houthi territorial advances along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and control of islands including Perim/Mayyun since September 2026 have given the group leverage over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the southern gateway to the Red Sea and Suez route. A selective embargo on Saudi-linked vessels announced July 20 has cut overall transits 15–47% below pre-crisis levels, though daily commercial passages averaged around 34 in early November with modest recovery reported. The waterway remains formally open with no blanket closure declared, and Houthi statements continue to signal safe passage for non-Saudi traffic, while ISPS Security Level 3 persists due to missile, drone, and small-boat risks. Saudi-backed Yemeni forces have conducted ground operations near the strait with coalition air support, producing conflicting territorial claims, and broader regional tensions including Hormuz attacks add volatility. Shipping firms maintain rerouting options and heightened caution, keeping effective closure dependent on escalation or de-escalation in the ongoing Saudi-Houthi confrontation.