Oil Prices Surged After Houthis Seized Perim Island
The seizure of a strategic chokepoint and a subsequent naval blockade have triggered a sharp rise in crude oil prices.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Oil and Gas
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Houthi forces have seized Perim Island in the Bab al-Mandab strait and captured the Yemeni port city of Mokka. Following these events, Brent crude oil prices surged to 110 dollars per barrel as the group imposed a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia.
Why it matters
The control of the Bab al-Mandab strait threatens vital energy shipping routes and significantly heightens risks for global oil supplies. Tensions have further escalated following Houthi rocket attacks on Saudi cities and a recent drone strike that forced the East-West Pipeline offline.
Brent crude oil prices reached 110 dollars per barrel amid supply disruptions. Additionally, the East-West Pipeline, which has a capacity of 7 million barrels daily, was temporarily taken offline.
The players
Donald Trump
He serves as the current President of the United States and rejected a Saudi request for air strikes against Houthi forces.
Houthi forces
They are a militant group based in Sanaa that has engaged in naval blockades and drone strikes against regional infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia
The nation derives 60 percent of its revenue from oil and is currently the primary target of Houthi naval blockades and rocket attacks.
The details
Houthis utilized indigenous drone warfare and smuggling networks to exploit internal fragmentation among anti-Houthi factions in Yemen. The current blockade was initiated in retaliation to a Saudi bombardment in Sanaa that reportedly targeted an Iranian aircraft.
Timeline
The last ceasefire between Riyadh and the Houthis occurred in 2022.
President Donald Trump began a weeks-long air campaign against Houthi forces in mid-March 2025.
UAE-backed forces were forced to withdraw from Yemen by Riyadh in December 2025.
Brent crude oil reached 110 dollars per barrel in September 2026.
Market Landscape
This seizure disrupts the established 2026 global oil transit volume metrics for the Bab al-Mandab strait. The events represent a significant escalation in the regional struggle for control over critical maritime energy chokepoints.
Rising Brent crude prices may lead to increased costs for consumers at the pump as global energy supply chains face renewed uncertainty. Readers should anticipate potential volatility in energy-related stocks and broader market sectors linked to oil dependence.
The takeaway
The seizure of this strategic location serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of global energy transit routes to regional conflict. Investors and consumers should monitor geopolitical developments in the strait closely for further indicators of price volatility.
Further reading
For more on energy market stability, visit the Oil and Gas section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NEWSFIRE.
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