Yemen's Houthis capture a Red Sea island in threat to shipping
Houthi rebels have seized the island of Mayun in the Red Sea, threatening critical shipping lanes for Saudi oil exports. The move follows ongoing regional instability and has prompted Saudi Arabia to shut down a major oil pipeline as a precaution.
Why it matters
The seizure of strategic maritime chokepoints poses a direct threat to global energy supplies and international shipping security.
Yemen 's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels captured the island of Mayun at the entrance of the Red Sea, a key alternative for shipping Saudi oil and other exports since Iran has been targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
The island's seizure was confirmed by a senior military official with Yemen's internationally recognized government and a Houthi official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to journalists.
About 12% of the world's goods are typically shipped through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. It's especially important to Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally.
The Houthis' military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said in a statement Friday that "maritime navigation is safe for all companies except for Saudi vessels." But markets are nervous, and experts have described the Houthis as highly unpredictable.
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