Houthis seize Perim Island, tightening grip on Red Sea shipping lane


Houthi soldiers in combat gear

Yemen’s Iran‑backed Houthi movement declared a major advance on the western Red Sea coast after seizing Perim Island at the mouth of the Bab al‑Mandab Strait.


Perim Island, also called Mayyun, sits at the narrowest point of the strait and is key to shipping routes that carry tanker traffic from the Gulf of Aden to the Suez Canal. The capture was confirmed by a source from Yemen’s internationally‑recognised government to the BBC.


Just a day before, the Houthis had taken the strategic port city of Mokha from Saudi‑backed pro‑government forces, according to military sources. A Yemeni military official told AFP that the Houthis now control the entire coastline.


The group has stated it poses no threat to international shipping but reiterates its intent to target vessels from Saudi Arabia.


Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally urged US President Donald Trump to take military action against the Houthis during their rapid advance, two sources familiar with the matter told CBS News. Trump has declined to involve the US military directly, offering intelligence and targeting support instead.


A senior Trump administration official later told the BBC, "We are in continuous dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen government regarding regional stability."


On Friday, Yemeni pro‑government forces withdrew from Perim and witnesses reported Houthi forces advancing onto the island. The Houthis issued a statement that their military operation was a “success” and that maritime navigation is safe for all companies except Saudi vessels.


Houthi spokesman Yahya Sarea said the operation was launched on 3 September to counter Saudi aggression and claimed thousands of Saudi troops were killed, wounded, or captured. The statement did not mention Perim Island, and Saudi Arabia has not publicly commented.


The recent escalation has pushed oil prices higher as global shipping routes are threatened. The conflict has displaced at least 46,000 people, with the number alarmingly rising, according to the International Organization for Migration.


The Houthis gained full control of Yemen in 2015, prompting a Saudi-led intervention that has morphed into a prolonged proxy war. Their recent gains signal a decisive shift toward dominating the Red Sea corridor, a region of vital economic and strategic importance for the region and world alike.