Published: 12:18 AM, 12 September 2026
Houthis capture Red Sea island
A frame grab from AFPTV video on September 9, 2026, shows Yemeni government forces firing a machine gun during clashes with Houthi fighters west of Taiz province. -AFP
Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen captured Mayun island at the entrance to the Red Sea Friday, after seizing the port of Mokha Thursday, threatening international shipping. Iran urged Saudi Arabia to end its blockade of Yemen and resume talks.
Mayun is a strategic alternative route for Saudi oil and other exports amid Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The seizure was confirmed by officials from Yemen's internationally recognized government and the Houthis, who spoke anonymously. Saudi Arabia responded by striking Mokha airport, with no immediate reports of casualties or damage, AP reports.
About 12% of global goods normally pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is vital to Saudi Arabia. Its long-running blockade of Houthi-held Yemen has contributed to attacks on Saudi shipping.
Iran backed negotiations, while Yemen's National Defense Council condemned renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
AI company Anthropic said it blocked users in northern Houthi-held Yemen who used Claude Code to develop advanced ballistic and hypersonic missiles. No evidence showed a weapon was deployed.
