Story perspectives

Iran-Backed Houthis Seize Mokha Port, Perim Island

By Drooid · Sep 15, 2026, 10:21 PM UTC · How we work

Left

Mass displacement crisis

Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized the Yemeni port of Mokha on Thursday and the island of Perim (Mayun) on Friday.
The seizure displaced tens of thousands, strained aid delivery, and left roughly half of Yemen’s 40 million people facing acute food insecurity.
Over 2,000 Yemenis reached Djibouti within 24 hours of the Houthi advance, IOM reported.
Around 200 schools in southwestern Yemen have been converted into shelters for displaced families.

Right

Red Sea Export Decline

Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized Yemen’s Mokha port on Thursday and Perim (Mayun) island on Friday, extending Bab al-Mandeb control.
The advance threatens Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline and the Abqaiq processing plant, raising concerns about global fuel supplies.
Saudi Arabia was accused of over 300 airstrikes in five days, it has not confirmed.
Saudi crude exports via the Red Sea dropped to 2.5 million barrels per day in August.

Blindspot

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said the United States is in constant contact with regional partners and the Houthis and is monitoring the fluid situation.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Right-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Left-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

In March 2015 the Houthi capture of Aden prompted a Saudi-led coalition to launch Operation Decisive Storm, delivering more than 300 airstrikes in its first month and prompting the UN to warn that 1.5 million Yemenis faced acute food insecurity. The 2024 seizure of Mokha port and Perim island repeats that pattern, again threatening Bab al-Mandeb shipping and Saudi oil exports.

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Mass displacement crisis

Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized the Yemeni port of Mokha on Thursday and the island of Perim (Mayun) on Friday.
The seizure displaced tens of thousands, strained aid delivery, and left roughly half of Yemen’s 40 million people facing acute food insecurity.
Over 2,000 Yemenis reached Djibouti within 24 hours of the Houthi advance, IOM reported.
Around 200 schools in southwestern Yemen have been converted into shelters for displaced families.

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