Key facts
- Iran-aligned Houthis captured Perim Island and the port of Mokha, expanding control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
- The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a vital shipping route connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, is now under increased Houthi control.
- Houthi forces also captured Zuqar Island.
- Holding Perim Island allows the group to monitor and potentially mine the waterway.
- Brent crude soared to $108 and WTI surpassed $103 following the news.
- Saudi Arabia has rerouted more than 70% of its crude exports through the Red Sea port of Yanbu, which the Houthis are now threatening.
- QatarEnergy is considering long-term LNG purchases from U.S. suppliers due to crippled export capabilities.
- Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated that Red Sea navigation is safe except for Saudi ships.
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have captured the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait after seizing Perim Island and the port of Mokha, a significant territorial expansion that intensifies concerns over global trade security. The strait, a vital chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, carries approximately 6.2 million barrels of oil and refined products daily, and about 80% of the LNG shipped north to Europe. Houthi attacks in the region in 2024 led to a more than 60% fall in Suez Canal revenue, costing Egypt $7 billion.
Holding Perim Island, which splits the strait into two channels, allows the Houthis to monitor and potentially mine the waterway. The advance has led to soaring oil prices, with Brent crude reaching $108 and WTI surpassing $103. Saudi Arabia, which has rerouted over 70% of its crude exports through the Red Sea port of Yanbu, now faces threats to this alternate route. QatarEnergy is also exploring long-term LNG purchases from U.S. suppliers due to crippled export capabilities following an Iranian strike on its Ras Laffan LNG complex. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated that maritime navigation in the Red Sea remains safe, with the exception of Saudi ships, indicating the group's asserted control over the strait. US President Donald Trump has declined direct military strikes on the Houthis, opting instead to provide intelligence and targeting support.