Houthis seize control of strategic Red Sea island
Yemen's Houthi fighters have taken control of Mayun Island, also known as Perim, in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait after government forces withdrew. A Houthi official insists shipping through the strait remains safe.
Armed Houthi fighters arrived by boat on Mayun Island, also known as Perim Island, after Yemeni government forces pulled out of the location the previous day, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The official said the Houthis have now completed their takeover of both the island, located in the middle of the strait, and the wider Bab el-Mandeb region.
A witness reported that armed fighters are now positioned along the strait's coastline and are patrolling the area in military vehicles.
Houthis seek to ease shipping safety concerns
Hazem al-Asad, a member of the Houthi political bureau, told the outlet Al Araby Al Jadeed that freedom of navigation and international trade in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb remain safe and are proceeding normally. He said there is no reason for international concern, as no threat exists from the Yemeni side.
Why the strait matters
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serves as a critical shipping route toward the Suez Canal. It is also a vital corridor for Saudi Arabia's oil exports.
Background on the conflict
Yemen has been gripped by civil war since 2014, pitting the Shiite Houthi movement against the country's central government. Iran backs the Houthis, while Saudi Arabia supports the government. The war has alternated between periods of intense fighting and relative calm. The latest escalation began in March, following the start of military action by Israel and the United States against Iran.
