Houthis Seize Perim Island, Control Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has completed its seizure of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a critical maritime chokepoint linking Asia to Europe via the Red Sea and Suez Canal. The group captured Perim Island, also known as Mayyun Island, which divides the narrowest part of the waterway into two shipping lanes, after government forces withdrew from the rocky volcanic site. This move follows an 18-hour blitz that saw the Houthis take control of the town of Dhubab, the coastal village of Murad, and the strategic port city of Mokha, effectively placing all of Yemen’s Red Sea coast under their authority. Local government officials and eyewitnesses confirmed the developments on Friday, noting that gunmen were deploying along the shore and driving military vehicles through the newly acquired territories.
The offensive began in earnest on Thursday when Houthi fighters stormed Mokha following rocket attacks and a ground assault using boats transporting militants. Military sources reported that the group also seized Zuqar Island, the largest of three major islands in the northern Red Sea archipelago. Subsequent reports indicated that Houthi forces had besieged government troops on the Hanish islands, where more than 2,000 soldiers are reportedly trapped. A senior military official stated that the besieged forces have appealed for rescue, food, water, and air support to lift the siege, though their exact status remains uncertain. Videos circulating online showed Houthi celebrations in Mokha and the seizure of significant weapons and equipment left behind by retreating government forces, although Euronews could not independently verify the authenticity of this footage.
The capture of these territories places roughly one-third of the world’s seaborne trade under hostile control, particularly when combined with Iran’s influence over the Hormuz Strait. Together, these two waterways account for more than a quarter of global seaborne crude oil and petroleum trade, while nearly one-third of the world’s container traffic passes through the Red Sea alone. Caroline Rose, Senior Director at the Soufan Center, told Euronews that the Houthi takeover creates a severe chokehold, forcing shipping operators to reconsider costlier alternatives. She explained that vessels must now explore routes through Asia, the Cape of Good Hope, and the Atlantic to reach Europe, adding weeks to journeys and increasing insurance requirements due to the proliferation of drones and overall risk.
Despite the strategic significance of the takeover, Houthi officials initially sought to allay global fears regarding international shipping. Hazem al-Assad, a member of the Houthi politburo, stated that freedom of navigation and international trade in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb remained safe and orderly, posing no danger to cargo routes. However, the group quickly clarified this position, specifying that Saudi Arabia remained an exception. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced on Friday evening that maritime navigation was safe for all companies except Saudi ships, which had already been banned. The Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, came to power in late 2014 after storming the capital Sana’a and seizing key military sites, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile. They are part of Tehran’s Axis of Resistance, a network of militant groups backed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The group recently triggered a return to hostilities in July by allowing an Iranian plane to land in defiance of Saudi control, prompting Riyadh to strike the airport and leading to a Houthi blockade targeting Saudi oil trade. This report was produced in the Europe Brief News newsroom.
