Moammar al-Eryani, the Yemeni minister of information, warned that the militia is actively moving to expand its presence along the western coast. Three separate Houthi sources confirmed these strategic ambitions, which would grant the group direct leverage over the waterway. This expansion follows a series of recent strikes on Saudi tankers and the Jazan refinery, forcing international shippers to reconsider routes through the Red Sea.

The conflict has already disrupted global energy logistics, forcing Saudi Arabia to reroute exports from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean port of Sidi Kerir. Asian refiners have requested alternative pickup points as vessel owners grow increasingly hesitant to traverse the strait. Despite these risks, shipping data from August 16 shows 254 crossings in a single week, underscoring the high stakes for global trade. If the Houthis secure these coastal positions, they will transform from a regional insurgent threat into a dominant force capable of dictating the flow of maritime traffic in the region.