Thousands of Yemenis have fled their homes as Houthi forces advanced toward positions controlling access to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Houthi forces captured Mokha on Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The movement also took Mayun Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Roughly a trillion dollars in goods normally pass through the Red Sea corridor each year.

The advances displaced thousands of civilians from nearby communities. United Nations officials warned that Yemen could return to a severe humanitarian emergency. Control of coastal territory can affect surveillance, missile range and access to shipping lanes without guaranteeing total control of the strait. Displaced families need shelter, food, water and medical care while transport routes are under pressure.

The earlier civil war killed about 150,000 people before a 2022 ceasefire reduced nationwide fighting. Yemen’s population now exceeds 40 million and many households remain dependent on assistance. The Houthis control northern Yemen, while other authorities and armed groups hold different parts of the country.

Houthi attacks have also targeted Saudi oil and utility infrastructure during the broader conflict. Bab el-Mandeb is a key route between the Indian Ocean, Red Sea and Suez Canal. Regional warfare has placed Yemen’s internal conflict inside a larger network of attacks and counterattacks. Independent access to newly captured areas was limited, and the duration and scale of further displacement remained uncertain.

Mokha and Mayun have distinct geographic roles. Mokha is a mainland port and coastal position, while Mayun sits inside the strait itself. Holding either location can support observation or attacks, but effective control of commercial traffic also depends on weapons, surveillance, outside naval forces and ship routing. Civilian movement may therefore intensify even before a complete change in maritime access is measurable.

What to watch: Humanitarian access and verified displacement counts. Any attacks on vessels or infrastructure from the newly controlled territory.