# ‘They called us’: Has Trump abandoned Bab al-Mandeb to the Houthis?

https://mins.news/en/item/62409

- Al Jazeera, 2026-09-17 09:52 UTC
- World
- Original: https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2026/9/17/they-called-us-has-trump-abandoned-bab-al-mandeb-to-the-houthis?traffic_source=rss

> As Donald Trump said the Houthis had contacted Washington and were allowing ships to pass, the group seized Dhubab, Perim Island and the strategic port of Mocha, gaining a direct presence at the entrance to Bab al-Mandeb. The article argues that Washington’s choice to avoid a new front in Yemen exposes the limits of the US Gulf security umbrella and signals the collapse of the traditional “security-for-oil” relationship.

## Stories

- [Houthi Saudi Red Sea Conflict](https://mins.news/en/topic/houthi-yemen-saudi-red-sea-conflict-2026-08) — Markdown: https://mins.news/en/topic/houthi-yemen-saudi-red-sea-conflict-2026-08.md

## Related coverage

- [Explainer: How Yemen’s Houthis went from a small mountain militia to a major regional threat](https://mins.news/en/item/62330) — Reuters, 2026-09-17
- [Saudi pipeline attacked, Iran sabotages deal and more: Experts on Iran](https://mins.news/en/video/60024) — CNN, 2026-09-15
- [US in contact with Houthis after takeover of Perim Island, vice president says](https://mins.news/en/item/58248) — TASS, 2026-09-14