Yemen Takes Control of Bab al-Mandab after Liberating Mayyun Island
Yemen's Ansarullah forces secured full control over the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait after seizing Mayyun Island and nearby coastal areas, altering the western front's balance of power. This development provoked retaliatory Saudi airstrikes on Yemeni infrastructure, prompting warnings from Ansarullah officials that any further attacks would be met with reciprocal responses.
This 9-11 anniversary appears to be another nexus of long term implications.
The Houthis
The Houthis, a Zaydi Shi’a movement rooted in northern Yemen, began as a religious revivalist group opposing corruption and foreign influence, later evolving into a powerful armed faction that seized control of Sana’a in 2014. Backed by Iran with weapons, training, and strategic guidance, they became a key player in the Axis of Resistance, launching missile and drone attacks on regional targets and disrupting global shipping through the Red Sea. Despite sustained military campaigns and international sanctions, they have consolidated governance over vast territories, suppressed dissent, exploited humanitarian crises for leverage, and maintained resilience as Iran’s strategic reserve amid escalating Middle Eastern conflicts.
And the price of diesel is already high.