Houthis seize Greater and Lesser Hanish islands, tightening control of Bab el-Mandeb
On 14 September 2026 Houthi forces captured the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands in the southern Red Sea, expanding their control near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and strengthening their hold over a key shipping corridor that connects the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean.
The desk brief
On 14 September 2026 Houthi forces captured the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands in the southern Red Sea, expanding their control near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and strengthening their hold over a key shipping corridor that connects the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean.
The Hanish island captures increase the risk premium on Red Sea shipping: higher war-risk insurance and freight costs would raise import bills for transport-dependent African economies (notably Egypt). That can exert reserve pressure, widen short-term sovereign and corporate funding premia, and raise logistics costs for import-reliant sectors, conditional on continued Houthi disruption or escalation.
Monitor Yemeni government/Saudi counter-offensive and shipping insurers’ war-risk premium announcements within days to weeks.
Sources & verification
Developing storyFurther independent confirmation is required.
- Houthis capture more Red Sea islands, tightening grip on Bab el-Mandebeuronews.comSource published (opens in a new tab)
- Yemen’s Houthi rebels seize more key islands in southern Red Sea, tighten grip on shipping routesassociated pressSource published (opens in a new tab)
Public references supporting this brief.