Houthis seize Perim and widen Red Sea blockade in September 2026, disrupting Saudi exports and Red Sea routes
On 11 September 2026 the Houthis captured Perim (Mayun) island and other Red Sea coast positions and a drone strike that day damaged Saudi Arabia's East–West pipeline, triggering a naval blockade of Saudi-linked shipping and observable rerouting and rate effects on Red Sea trade corridors.
The desk brief
On 11 September 2026 the Houthis captured Perim (Mayun) island and other Red Sea coast positions and a drone strike that day damaged Saudi Arabia's East–West pipeline, triggering a naval blockade of Saudi-linked shipping and observable rerouting and rate effects on Red Sea trade corridors.
The Houthi capture of Perim and the pipeline outage shortens missile/drone flight times and gives the group observation and launch points beside major traffic lanes, increasing insurers' risk assessment of the Bab el‑Mandeb and encouraging shipping rerouting via Suez or around the Cape. That raises freight and fuel premia, which mechanically increase import bills and trade/FX pressure for import-dependent African countries such as Egypt; Djibouti faces humanitarian and security spillovers from refugee flows and nearby naval operations.
Reports of mines or offensive deployments on Perim/Hanish, or a Saudi/US operational response, within the next weeks.
Sources & verification
Developing storyFurther independent confirmation is required.
- Red Sea Crisis 2026: Houthi Blockade and Bab el-Mandeb Takeover | WARWATCH Analysiswarwatchlive.comSource published (opens in a new tab)
- UN SC condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, Red Sea shippingsharjah24.aeSource published (opens in a new tab)
Public references supporting this brief.