West Asia conflict LIVE: Houthis take over key Red Sea island to control Bab al-Mandeb strait
Houthi militants have seized control of Perim Island in the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a critical shipping waterway in the Red Sea. This move follows a large-scale offensive against government forces in Yemen, escalating regional instability.
Why it matters
Control over the Bab al-Mandeb strait poses a significant threat to global maritime trade and energy supply chains.
Saudi Arabia launched two strikes on Friday targeting the airport of the strategic city of Mocha, now under Houthi control, according to the group’s Al-Masirah TV channel.
Yemen’s Tehran-backed Houthis seized control of the Red Sea port city on Thursday after launching a large-scale offensive last week against Riyadh-backed Yemeni government forces.
Iran-aligned Houthi militants reached Yemen’s strategic Perim Island at the mouth of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait early on Friday after government forces withdrew, four Yemeni government sources told Reuters .
The move marked the group’s most significant advance yet towards control of the key shipping waterway.
Yemen’s Houthis took over a key island in the Red Sea on Friday, completing their push to seize control of the Bab al-Mandab strait area, a local government official and eyewitnesses told AFP.
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