Houthi fighters took the Hanish archipelago on Monday after hundreds of troops allied with Yemen's internationally recognised government withdrew, tightening the militia's grip on the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

The seizure follows earlier Houthi gains at the coastal city of Mokha and on Perim Island, giving the group control of three strategic points along the Red Sea corridor.

According to Euronews, artillery fire and sustained pressure forced the government‑aligned forces to pull back, allowing Houthi units to move in and raise their flags over the islands.

Island residents watched the flag change from a distance, with many scrambling for boats to reach the mainland; those who stayed now join an expanding pool of displaced people.

Yemen's president Abd‑Rabbu Mansour Hadi said his administration will regroup and launch a counter‑offensive, while the Saudi‑led coalition pledged additional air support to reclaim the lost territory.

Displacement swells as fighting spreads

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that more than 80,000 people have been forced from their homes in the past two weeks, many seeking refuge in temporary camps near Hodeidah.

UN officials warn that aid deliveries are being hampered by Houthi control of key ports and the strait, raising the risk of a wider humanitarian crisis.

Al Jazeera reported that government forces managed to advance in western Taiz, pushing back a Houthi offensive and highlighting the fluidity of the front lines.

Implications for global shipping and regional security

Bab el-Mandeb handles roughly a third of the world's oil shipments; Houthi dominance there could force vessels to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, inflating transport costs and insurance premiums.

The United States Navy has increased patrols in the area, and Saudi Arabia warned of "serious consequences" if commercial traffic is disrupted.

Analysts at the Gulf Research Centre say the Houthi advances reflect Iran's strategic aim to leverage Red Sea chokepoints, but also risk drawing deeper foreign military involvement.

The next steps hinge on whether the recognised government can muster sufficient forces to retake the islands before the United Nations‑mediated ceasefire talks slated for Geneva later this month.