Houthis complete seizure of last two Bab al-Mandab islands

Houthi forces took control of Greater and Lesser Hanish islands, the final two islands in the Bab al-Mandab strait not already under their control. A Yemeni military official said 'everything that was under our control on the western coast has fallen,' marking the completion of a Houthi takeover of the strategic strait separating the Red Sea from the Gulf of Aden.

Why this matters. Full Houthi control of Bab al-Mandab gives the group direct leverage over one of the world's busiest shipping chokepoints, raising the risk of further vessel seizures or blockades on top of existing Red Sea disruption.