DJIBOUTI — Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement has rapidly expanded its presence along the Red Sea coast, raising new concerns about maritime security and the safety of a major U.S. military installation in Djibouti.
Recent territorial gains have brought Houthi forces to positions roughly 20 miles from the U.S. base across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to reporting. The group has captured strategic coastal locations, including the port city of Mokha and Perim Island, giving it greater visibility and potential influence over one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.
Camp Lemonnier, the principal U.S. military facility in Africa, hosts thousands of American military and civilian personnel. Stars and Stripes reported that the base is about 80 miles from Perim Island, placing it within the broader security concerns created by the Houthis’ expanding presence around the strait.
The Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serves as a critical passage for international commerce, including energy shipments moving between the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Any sustained disruption could force commercial vessels to take longer routes, increasing travel times and transportation costs.
The security situation has deteriorated sharply in recent weeks. The Houthis have announced restrictions on Saudi-linked maritime traffic and have claimed attacks against Saudi vessels and infrastructure. In July, the group said it had attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea after announcing what it described as a naval blockade against Saudi shipping.
The latest escalation has extended beyond maritime targets. On September 19, Houthi forces launched missile and drone attacks toward Saudi Arabia, including an attempted ballistic-missile strike on Riyadh. Saudi authorities said the missile was intercepted, while the Houthis claimed they had targeted sensitive sites and an oil facility in Yanbu. Those competing claims have not all been independently verified.
The attacks have heightened concern about energy infrastructure and global oil markets. Saudi Arabia remains one of the world’s largest oil producers, and the Red Sea is an important alternative route for energy shipments at a time when regional disruptions have already affected other major waterways.
Houthi control of territory around the Bab el-Mandeb has also drawn warnings from maritime authorities. The International Maritime Organization has condemned attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and continues to monitor incidents involving merchant vessels and seafarers.
U.S. maritime authorities have separately warned that Houthi forces continue to pose a threat to American assets and commercial vessels operating in the region. Previous attacks have killed mariners and damaged or sunk commercial ships, while vessels with connections to Israel, the United States or Britain have faced particular security concerns.
The latest developments therefore extend beyond Yemen’s civil war. Control of strategic coastal territory and islands near the Bab el-Mandeb gives the Houthis greater proximity to international shipping lanes while increasing security concerns for neighboring countries and foreign military forces operating in the Horn of Africa.
With fighting continuing and Saudi infrastructure coming under repeated attack, shipping companies and energy traders are watching closely. Whether the Houthis can hold their newly captured positions—and whether further attacks target commercial shipping—could have consequences far beyond Yemen, especially for global trade and energy flows.
