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Houthis Advance Toward Bab el-Mandeb, Threatening Red Sea Traffic

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 10:33 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Houthi rebels advanced toward the Bab el-Mandeb strait, threatening Red Sea traffic.
The United States dropped 2,000 munitions on 1,000 Houthi targets in 2025, costing $750 million.
Houthis shot down seven U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones, each worth over $30 million.
Saudi officials say a ground offensive would cause high casualties, prompting hesitation.
U.N. experts reported Iran-linked weapon transfers and estimated 350,000 Houthi fighters by 2024.

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Story summary

Houthi rebels advanced toward the Bab el-Mandeb strait, threatening Red Sea traffic.
The United States dropped 2,000 munitions on 1,000 Houthi targets in 2025, costing $750 million.
Houthis shot down seven U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones, each worth over $30 million.
Saudi officials say a ground offensive would cause high casualties, prompting hesitation.
U.N. experts reported Iran-linked weapon transfers and estimated 350,000 Houthi fighters by 2024.