YEMEN | Iran-aligned Houthi forces have seized Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the nearby mainland town of Dhubab, expanding their control over one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints and raising the risk of further disruption to global oil and commercial shipping.
Four Yemeni government sources told Reuters on Friday that Houthi forces had reached Perim, also known as Mayun Island, after government troops withdrew from the strategic position. Two government sources also said the Houthis had taken Dhubab on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, directly opposite the island.
The development follows the Houthis’ capture of the Red Sea port city of Mocha on Thursday, extending their rapid advance along Yemen’s western coastline toward the mouth of the Bab el-Mandeb. Yemeni government forces are now preparing a counteroffensive aimed at retaking Mocha and other strategic positions along the coast, according to Reuters.
Perim is particularly significant because it sits in the middle of the Bab el-Mandeb, the narrow passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Control of the island, together with positions on the nearby mainland, could give the Houthis a stronger position from which to threaten or restrict maritime traffic passing through the strait.
The Bab el-Mandeb has become even more strategically important because the wider regional conflict has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The two waterways sit at opposite ends of the Arabian Peninsula and together form critical routes for energy and international trade. The Associated Press reported that the Bab el-Mandeb normally carries a substantial share of global oil and goods shipments, while recent attacks have already contributed to a sharp decline in Red Sea shipping.
The latest advance also comes as Saudi Arabia faces mounting pressure on its oil exports. Reuters reported that Saudi crude shipments have fallen to their lowest level in more than three decades, while the kingdom has relied more heavily on alternative routes after disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. Any further threat to the Red Sea route could therefore place additional pressure on global energy markets.
Iran’s role is central to the growing concern. Reuters reported that Iranian arms, funding and tactical guidance have helped the Houthis in their recent offensive, based on accounts from Yemeni, Iranian and regional sources. Tehran has denied controlling the Houthis, while Iranian sources cited by Reuters said the group had received instructions and additional support.
The escalation risks reopening Yemen’s broader civil war. A UN-backed truce in 2022 significantly reduced large-scale fighting between the Houthis and forces supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government, although no permanent peace agreement followed. The recent fighting has already displaced tens of thousands of people, according to reports citing Yemeni government figures, while the UN has warned that Yemen faces a serious risk of renewed full-scale conflict.
The strategic importance of the Red Sea route dates back centuries, but it increased dramatically after the Suez Canal opened in 1869, creating a direct maritime link between the Mediterranean and Red seas and shortening the route between Europe and Asia. The Suez Canal Authority describes the canal as a major artery of world navigation, making security in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb essential to international trade.
The Houthi seizure of Perim therefore represents more than another battlefield gain in Yemen. It places an Iran-aligned force at a critical gateway for global shipping at a time when the region is already facing severe disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, increasing the stakes for Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iran and international maritime trade.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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