# TLDR: 2026-09-11 (Day 196) Lead: BOTH GATES ARE NOW IN THE SAME HANDS Compiled by a language model from that day's archived articles; analysis, not archive record. Page: https://iranwar.liminallayers.com/bulletins/tldr-2026-09-11/ Licence: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); sources remain their publishers'. ## OVERVIEW The Houthis have taken Perim Island and the town of Dhubab, which between them command the southern gate of the Red Sea, so Iran and its closest ally now sit on both of the region's shipping chokepoints at once. Saudi Arabia asked Trump twice for US strikes on the Houthis and was turned down, though American advisers are already helping Riyadh choose targets. The European Central Bank raised rates and said the war is now driving inflation, with European gas at three-year highs and British borrowing costs back at 2007 levels. ## BOTH GATES ARE NOW IN THE SAME HANDS Houthi fighters took Perim, the volcanic island that splits the Bab al-Mandab near its narrowest point, along with the coastal city of Dhubab, after government forces pulled out [2][6]. A Yemeni military source says that completes their control of the strait [6]. About 12 percent of world trade normally goes through it, and Saudi Arabia has been using that route to get its crude out since Hormuz became unusable [2]. Sanaa insists "maritime navigation is safe" [13], which is the tell: the Houthis want the ability to close the strait acknowledged, not necessarily used. ## TRUMP SAYS NO TO STRIKES, YES TO TARGETING Mohammed bin Salman called Trump twice on Thursday asking for American strikes on the Houthis and was refused both times, with the administration determined not to open a second front while it fights over Hormuz [8]. What Washington will do is hand over intelligence, and CENTCOM chief Brad Cooper flew to Saudi Arabia for urgent talks [8]. CNN reports more than 100 US advisers are already inside a new joint command in the kingdom, running a Maven-style real-time targeting tool for Saudi strikes [14]. Not in the war, then, but choosing what gets hit in it. ## ISRAEL SETS OFF A MAGNITUDE 4.1 EARTHQUAKE IN LEBANON The Israeli military used more than 1,100 tons of explosives to destroy Hezbollahs tunnel complex under the Ali al-Taher ridge, registering as a magnitude 4.1 quake on US Geological Survey instruments and felt 40km away [1][4]. Netanyahu and Israel Katz say it completes their "security zone" in southern Lebanon [1]. An Israeli official says about 50 Hezbollah fighters were inside and refused a chance to surrender [1]. Iran reportedly warned Washington last month it would respond forcefully if the ridge attacks continued, so watch that space. ## THE US NAVY ADMITS IRAN WRECKED ITS BAHRAIN HEADQUARTERS "They blew the hell out of Bahrain," acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said of the Fifth Fleet's home base, which a task force is now deciding whether to repair at all [5]. The Navy's senior officer says it will not be back in service "anytime soon," and the damage left the USS Abraham Lincoln with nowhere to dock during a nine-month deployment [5]. Araghchis reply was a single line thanking Cao for his candour [5]. Separately, the Wall Street Journal reports Iran has restarted underground ballistic missile production from stockpiled parts [16], which is awkward for the claim that the programme was "functionally destroyed" in April. ## THE ECB MAKES IT A MONETARY PROBLEM Rates went up to 2.5 percent, the inflation forecast to 3 percent, and Christine Lagarde said inflation "will be longer lasting than we had anticipated" [17]. UK 10-year borrowing costs hit 5.36 percent, the highest since August 2007, with German and French yields at their own multi-decade peaks [17]. Dutch gas passed 80 euros a megawatt hour for the first time since January 2023 and EU storage is only 67 percent full against an 84 percent average [17]. Winter has not started yet. ## References 1. [CRD] The Cradle: Israel uses 1,100 tons of explosives to destroy resistance 'nerve center' beneath Ali al-Taher ridge 2. [GDN] The Guardian — Middle East: Iran’s Houthi allies capture strategic island on vital oil shipping route 3. [AAM] Anadolu Agency — Middle East: Iranian president says he does not support continued war, urges strengthening country’s resilience 4. [BBC] BBC News: Israel says it has destroyed major underground Hezbollah base 5. [AJE] Al Jazeera: ‘Blew the hell out of it’: How Iran damaged US bases in Bahrain, Jordan 6. [AAM] Anadolu Agency — Middle East: Houthis seize strategic Perim Island in Bab el-Mandab Strait, Dhubab city 7. [JPO] The Jerusalem Post: Gulf foreign ministers to meet with Iranian FM in push to secure deal for Strait of Hormuz - report 8. [YNT] Ynetnews: Trump rebuffs Saudi pleas for strikes as Houthis surge, report says 9. [MHR] Mehr News Agency: Pezeshkian terms BRICS a tool against US pressure 10. [FOX] Fox News: Top Trump official reveals how 30-minute military op unlocked Venezuela oil windfall for US buyers 11. [RTN] RT (Russia Today): Iran destroys US spy Saildrone in Hormuz (VIDEO) 12. [CRD] The Cradle: NATO chief says Hormuz mine clearance 'not a NATO mission' 13. [CRD] The Cradle: Yemeni army storms Red Sea islands, captures Bab al-Mandab Strait 14. [CNN] CNN: EXCLUSIVE: US expands intel, targeting support for Saudi campaign against Iranian ally 15. [BBC] BBC News: Oil, gas and borrowing costs surge as fears over Middle East escalate 16. [YNT] Ynetnews: Netanyahu: Iran is trying to rebuild its nuclear weapons capability 17. [GDN] The Guardian — Middle East: ECB raises interest rates to 2.5% and warns Iran war is fuelling inflation