# Houthis and Red Sea Conflict Explained

> Houthis seize Red Sea chokepoints, threatening global trade routes.
- Title: Houthis and Red Sea Conflict Explained · The Rio Times
- Summary: Houthis seize Red Sea chokepoints, threatening global trade routes. Houthis seized Perim Island and Mocha port in September 2026, disrupting Suez Canal trade…
- Keywords: houthi, red sea, suez canal, perim island, mocha port, saudi arabia, yemen, iran, un sanctions, shipping routes, brent crude, gaza ceasefire
- Source: The Rio Times — https://riotimesonline.com/houthis-red-sea-explained-2026
- Author: Amina Diarra
- Published: 2026-10-15T14:16:33+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: houthi, red sea, suez canal, perim island, mocha port, saudi arabia, yemen, iran, un sanctions, shipping routes, brent crude, gaza ceasefire
## Who the Houthis Are
Ansar Allah, an Iran-backed movement led by Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, has held Yemen’s capital Sanaa since 2014.
## The 2026 Escalation
In September 2026, the Houthis seized Mocha port and Perim Island beside the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
## The Attacks
Houthi strikes on ships began in November 2023, paused after the Gaza ceasefire of October 2025, and resumed against Saudi-linked shipping in 2026.
## The Cost to Egypt
Suez Canal revenue fell from US$10 billion a year to US$3.3 billion, recovering only to about US$4.4 billion.
## Who Patrols the Strait
The EU’s Aspides mission escorts ships, a US-led coalition guards the route since December 2023, and a Saudi-led coalition fights the Houthis.
## The 2026 Impact
Houthi strikes on Saudi refineries and airports since mid-2026 have disrupted oil shipments and increased freight costs.
## The Market Prediction
Prediction markets show a 30.5% chance of a Saudi-Houthi ceasefire by 31 December 2026.
## The Open Questions
It is unclear who holds Perim Island or whether UN mediation can stop the fighting.
## The Houthi Support
Iran provides training, weapons, and financial support to the Houthis, as reported by UN experts in 2024.
## The Casualties
Houthi strikes killed four seafarers on the Tanzania-flagged cargo ship Tihamah and injured 73 people at the Jazan refinery.
## The Refugee Crisis
About 3,000 people have crossed the strait to seek refuge in Djibouti since early August 2026.
## The Strategic Shift
Saudi Arabia has grown more reliant on the Red Sea to ship oil after the Strait of Hormuz was disrupted.
## The Military Response
The US and Saudi Arabia have deployed naval forces to protect shipping routes in the Red Sea since 2023.
## The Unconfirmed Claims
There is no confirmed evidence the Houthis have handed over advanced missiles or drones to al-Shabaab.
## The Future
The conflict could escalate further, disrupting global trade and oil supplies if the ceasefire fails.
## Key takeaway

Houthis seized Perim Island and Mocha port in September 2026, disrupting Suez Canal trade and Saudi oil shipments.