Ansarallah Secures Control of Red Sea Strait in Major Offensive

The Ansarallah movement, also known as the Houthis, launched a major offensive in Yemen's coastal regions in September, securing significant victories along the Red Sea coast. Beginning on September 3, Ansarallah targeted the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, a crucial trade route, held by the U.S. and Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council (PLC). By September 10, they had liberated the port of Mokha, the Hanish Islands, and Perim Island, effectively closing the strait to Saudi and Israeli shipping.

Ansarallah's offensive was a response to Saudi Arabia's restart of the war in early July 2026, after the bombing of Sanaa's airport. The movement imposed a naval blockade on Saudi ports and struck key oil facilities, including the East-West pipeline, which carries roughly 5% of the world's oil supply. These actions, combined with the U.S. war on Iran, caused oil prices to surge, with Brent crude reaching $108 per barrel.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sought U.S. intervention, but President Donald Trump refused, only offering intelligence support. European powers stepped in, with Britain pledging to refuel Saudi warplanes and France offering to guard Saudi energy infrastructure. The G7 foreign ministers demanded Ansarallah halt its attacks, but the movement remained firm in its stance against imperialism and Zionism.

Ansarallah's actions are part of a broader resistance front in the Middle East, which includes Iran, Hezbollah, and Palestinian liberation movements. The movement has consistently targeted Israeli-linked ships and maintained a blockade of Israel in solidarity with Palestine. With both the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb under resistance control, U.S. imperialism faces significant challenges in the region.