Houthis capture Yemen’s Greater and Lesser Hanish islands in the Red Sea

A new territorial gain in the Red Sea

Houthi forces have taken control of Greater Hanish and Lesser Hanish, two Yemeni islands in the southern Red Sea, after hundreds of troops aligned with the internationally recognised government withdrew. Euronews reported that Houthi units moved onto the islands following the retreat. The archipelago lies roughly 160 kilometres north of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, one of the principal approaches connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

The capture expands a coastal and island position the Houthis have built during their latest offensive. They had already taken the port of Mocha and Mayyun, also called Perim, at the mouth of Bab el-Mandeb. Holding the Hanish islands does not by itself close the international waterway, but it gives the group additional locations near routes used by commercial shipping and naval forces operating between the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.

Pressure beyond the islands

The territorial change comes amid simultaneous fighting on land and attacks affecting areas near Saudi Arabia. Government-aligned forces have been attempting to reorganise after losing positions along Yemen’s western coast. The result is a more fragmented front stretching from the Red Sea toward Taiz and other government-held areas, increasing the danger that a local withdrawal develops into a broader shift in the balance of the war.

The United Nations had already warned before the Hanish seizure that spreading fronts were driving new displacement and obstructing humanitarian operations. Its 11 September briefing said about 18,000 households had been displaced since the start of the month. Road closures prevented thousands of emergency kits stored in Aden from reaching affected communities, while damage had suspended operations at Mocha’s seaport.

Why the islands matter

Bab el-Mandeb is a narrow maritime chokepoint used by vessels travelling through the Suez Canal route. The Houthis have previously demonstrated that threats and attacks around shipping lanes can alter routes, insurance costs and naval deployments even without establishing continuous control of the sea. New positions on the Hanish chain therefore matter to Yemen’s internal battlefield and to the security calculations of Saudi Arabia, regional states and shipping operators.

The immediate questions are whether government-aligned forces attempt to retake the islands, whether the Houthis deploy missiles or drones there, and whether fighting spreads farther south. UN officials continue to call for de-escalation, protection of civilians and renewed political dialogue. For aid agencies, restoring access from Aden and reopening damaged transport links are urgent priorities as newly displaced families move within Yemen and some cross to Djibouti.