Houthi forces have held Yemen’s entire Red Sea coastline and key islands including Perim since mid-September 2026, enabling sustained targeting of Saudi-linked vessels under a maritime embargo declared on July 20. This has cut tanker transits through Bab el-Mandeb by roughly 26 percent from prior averages as of early October, with many operators diverting around the Cape of Good Hope despite higher costs. Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces launched a counteroffensive in early October claiming control of the strait and nearby positions, but independent verification is absent and Houthi-aligned sources dispute the gains. Shipping continues selectively for non-targeted vessels amid ongoing missile and drone threats, keeping the route operationally hazardous without a formal closure declaration.