Iran-backed Houthi militants have seized the strategic island of Perim (Mayun) in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The island lies at the narrowest point of the waterway and splits the strait into two shipping routes.
This is reported by Euronews.
According to a local government official, the Houthis reached Perim by boat after government forces left the island. He said the militants had completed the establishment of control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait area and the island itself.
Witnesses say armed Houthis are deploying forces along the strait’s coastline and moving in military vehicles.
The seizure of Perim is strategically significant because the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is one of the key maritime routes linking Asia with Europe via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
The Houthis have previously attacked vessels in the area on multiple occasions. Before the latest offensive, the group controlled about a third of Yemen’s territory.
The Bab el-Mandeb and Strait of Hormuz are of major importance to global trade. They account for more than a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil trade, while almost a third of global container traffic passes through the Red Sea.
According to available information, the Houthis also consulted Iran about the possible introduction of a fee for the safe passage of ships through the strait. Such a move could further increase pressure on the global economy.
Yemen’s internationally recognised government has repeatedly warned in the past about the Houthis’ plans to take control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.