More than 82,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since early September 2026 as Iran-aligned Houthi forces swept through Red Sea coastal areas. The offensive tightens control over the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, triggering an influx of refugees into Djibouti and intensifying a severe regional humanitarian crisis.
An intensifying military offensive by Iran-aligned Houthi forces along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline has displaced more than 82,000 people since the start of September according to the International Organization for Migration. The lightning western campaign has opened a second theater of war, driving families from their homes and pushing vulnerable populations across the Gulf of Aden.
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Displacement and Desperation Along the Red Sea Coast
The sudden Houthi sweep through coastal districts has shattered daily life in a nation already broken by long-running conflict. Aisha Muhammad fled from coastal areas to the southwest province of Taiz, leaving behind two daughters and three sons trapped in their homes as fighting cut off the corridor.
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They are being blocked and shot at. Right now, they cannot reach us, and we cannot return to them.
Muhammad, displaced resident, via Reuters
Over 2,000 people have crossed the sea to Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, arriving with virtually nothing. Video footage shared by the International Organization for Migration showed arriving refugees receiving food and water at a settlement on Djibouti’s northern coast.
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Military Advances and Strategic Control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait
The ground offensive has significantly altered military dynamics in the region. Yemeni pro-government forces withdrew from Perim Island, also known as Mayyun, located at the narrowest point of the Bab al-Mandab Strait as reported by international news agencies and witnesses. Houthi forces subsequently occupied the island, which commands a vital chokepoint for global oil and shipping.
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Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea stated that a large-scale operation launched on September 3 successfully expelled Saudi-backed forces from six districts across the Taiz and Hodeidah regions. The Houthis claimed that hundreds of troops were killed, wounded, or captured during the operation.
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The strategic stakes extend far beyond Yemen’s borders. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed amid broader conflicts involving the United States and Iran, Saudi Arabia relies heavily on the Bab al-Mandab Strait to ship oil to Asian markets. The escalation has directly contributed to a surge in global oil prices.
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Regional Spillover and Strain on Neighboring Nations
The conflict’s ripple effects are straining host countries and critical energy infrastructure across the region. Djibouti’s finance minister, Ilyas Dawaleh, noted that managing the sudden influx is becoming increasingly difficult for the country, despite an unwavering commitment to humanitarian resources.
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Simultaneously, a Saudi-led coalition has carried out airstrikes against Houthi-controlled areas in western Yemen, while Houthi forces have targeted southern Saudi cities and oil installations with drones and missiles. The Saudi foreign ministry reported that a drone attack originating from Iraq targeted the country’s East-West oil pipeline on Friday, forcing a precautionary shutdown and injuring several people.
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While Iraq’s prime minister’s office condemned the attack and ordered an operational commander removed in Maysan governorate following an investigation, Saudi authorities announced they would not respond militarily at this stage.
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