Houthis report 408 commercial ships transited Bab el-Mandeb in 11 days despite conflict
Yemen's Houthi group announced on September 23 that 408 commercial ships passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait between September 11 and 21, up from 393 in the prior 11-day period. The Houthi-controlled Masirah TV reported the group claimed international shipping, except for Saudi vessels, continues normally. However, independent ship tracking data cited in reports indicates traffic has fluctuated, with significant daily declines at times. The Houthis have recently intensified their offensive, capturing Mocha and Perim Island, and declared a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia.
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- Summary covers the current reports
Cross-source coverage
Common ground
- The Saudi-led coalition, backed by the US and UK, bombed Yemen and imposed a blockade that caused widespread destruction and famine.
- The Houthis control the western coast and manage the Bab el-Mandeb strait, with over 400 ships passing safely in 11 days.
- A political settlement that includes all parties is the only path to peace in Yemen.
- The Yemeni people are suffering immensely, with millions displaced and dying from malnutrition and disease.
Points of contention
- The Eastern Agent sees the Houthis as a legitimate governing authority born from foreign aggression, while the Regional Agents view them as a theocratic militia that exploits the crisis for power.
- The Eastern Agent blames the coalition for the humanitarian crisis, while the Regional Agents argue the Houthis actively worsen it by diverting aid and imposing taxes.
- The Regional Agents insist on holding the Houthis accountable for abuses like executing journalists and using child soldiers, while the Eastern Agent says this deflects from the coalition's greater role in causing the war.
Blind spots
- The debate focuses on foreign powers and factions, but rarely centers the voices and needs of ordinary Yemenis caught in the middle.
- Both sides overlook how the Houthis' control of the strait could be used as leverage in future negotiations, not just as a military or propaganda tool.
- The discussion ignores the role of other regional players, like Iran or the UAE, in shaping the conflict beyond the Saudi-led coalition.
WorldAttention’s read
The Yemen crisis stems from a foreign intervention that destroyed the state, creating the Houthis as a local force that now controls the coast and the strait. While the coalition's bombing and blockade caused the famine, the Houthis have made things worse by diverting aid, imposing taxes, and running a brutal theocracy. Both sides are guilty of war crimes, but the coalition's actions started the cycle of violence. The only real solution is a political settlement that ends the war, lifts the blockade, and holds all factions accountable—starting with the foreign powers that armed the coalition. The Yemeni people deserve peace, not a choice between two sets of oppressors.
Reporting timeline
Yemen Houthis Say Over 400 Commercial Ships Passed Through Bab el-Mandeb in Recent Period
Yemen's Houthi group announced on September 23, 2026, that 408 commercial ships transited the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait between September 11 and 21, according to the Houthi-controlled Masirah TV. Of these, 196 sailed north toward the Red Sea and 212 south toward the Gulf of Aden. The Houthi statement claimed that international shipping, except for Saudi vessels, continues normally and safely. This figure is slightly higher than the 393 ships recorded between September 1 and 10. However, the article notes that other ship tracking data shows fluctuating vessel traffic through the strait since the escalation of Yemen's conflict, with some periods seeing significant daily declines. The Houthis have recently intensified their offensive against the Yemeni government, announced a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, and captured key coastal positions including the port of Mocha and Perim Island. The Yemeni government reported on September 11 that the Houthis now control the entire western coast and have advanced into Lahij province in the south.
Read sourceYemen's Houthis Say Over 400 Commercial Ships Passed Through Bab el-Mandeb in Recent Period
Yemen's Houthi group announced on September 23 that more than 400 commercial ships transited the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait between September 11 and 21, despite ongoing conflict in the area. According to a statement carried by the Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV, 408 vessels passed through the waterway, with 196 heading north toward the Red Sea and 212 south toward the Gulf of Aden. The group claimed that international shipping, except for Saudi vessels, continues normally and safely. This figure is higher than the 393 ships recorded between September 1 and 10. However, other ship tracking data reportedly shows fluctuations in traffic through the strait since the escalation of the conflict in Yemen, with daily transit numbers dropping significantly at times. The Houthis have recently intensified their offensive against the Yemeni government and announced a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, which supports the government. The group has captured key locations including the port city of Mocha and Perim Island. The Yemeni government stated on September 11 that the Houthis now control the entire western coast and have advanced into Lahij province in the south.
Yemen's Houthis Report Over 400 Commercial Ships Passed Through Bab el-Mandeb in 11 Days
Yemen's Houthi group announced on September 23 that more than 400 commercial ships transited the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait between September 11 and 21, despite ongoing conflict in the area. According to a statement carried by the Houthi-controlled Masirah TV, 408 vessels passed through the waterway connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Of these, 196 sailed north toward the Red Sea and 212 sailed south toward the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis said the ships included container vessels and that international shipping was proceeding normally and safely, except for Saudi vessels. The figure is higher than the 393 ships recorded between September 1 and 10, which included 199 northbound and 194 southbound vessels.
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Yemen's Houthis Say Over 400 Commercial Ships Passed Bab el-Mandeb Strait in 11 Days
On September 23, Yemen's Houthi group announced that despite ongoing conflict near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, more than 400 commercial ships transited the waterway in a recent 11-day period. According to a statement carried by the Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV, 408 ships passed through the strait between September 11 and 21, with 196 heading north toward the Red Sea and 212 heading south toward the Gulf of Aden. The report specified that the vessels included container ships and that international shipping was proceeding normally and safely, except for Saudi vessels. The Houthis also noted that this figure was higher than the 393 ships recorded between September 1 and 10, during which 199 sailed north and 194 sailed south. The report was originally published by China's state broadcaster CCTV and aggregated by financial data platform Jin10.
Yemen Houthis Say Over 400 Ships Passed Bab el-Mandeb Strait in 11 Days
Yemen's Houthi group announced on September 23 that over 400 commercial ships passed through the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait between September 11 and 21, despite ongoing conflict in the area. According to a statement carried by the Houthi-controlled Masirah TV, 408 vessels transited the waterway, with 196 heading north toward the Red Sea and 212 south toward the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis claimed that international shipping, except for Saudi vessels, continues normally and safely. This figure is higher than the 393 ships recorded between September 1 and 10. However, other ship tracking data cited in the report indicates that vessel traffic through the strait has fluctuated since the escalation of the Yemen conflict, with daily numbers dropping significantly at times. The Houthis have recently intensified their offensive against the Saudi-backed government, declared a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, and captured key strategic locations including the port city of Mukha and Perim Island. The Yemeni government stated on September 11 that the Houthis now control the entire western coast and have advanced into Lahij province in the south.
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