Houthi forces have reached Perim Island at the entrance to Yemen’s Bab el-Mandeb Strait and captured the nearby coastal town of Dhubab, according to Yemeni government sources cited by Reuters. The moves give the Iran-aligned group a stronger position near one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.
The advance follows the withdrawal of Saudi-backed Yemeni forces from Perim and comes as the Houthis expand their presence along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Their growing control of the area raises concerns about potential disruptions to commercial shipping traveling between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The development adds another layer of risk to already-disrupted regional energy and shipping routes. With tensions also affecting the Strait of Hormuz, greater Houthi control around Bab el-Mandeb could further threaten global trade, energy supplies, and shipping costs.
