Key facts
- Iran-aligned Houthi forces captured Perim island in Yemen's Bab al-Mandab strait.
- The island's capture expands Houthi control over the vital shipping route.
- The Bab al-Mandab strait links Asia and Europe via the Red Sea and Suez Canal.
- About 12% of the world's goods are typically shipped through the strait.
- Oil prices have risen to more than $100 a barrel amid the escalating fighting.
- Over 46,000 people have fled their homes due to the surge in fighting.
Yemen's Houthi forces have captured the strategic Perim island in the Bab al-Mandab strait, a critical waterway for global oil shipments, expanding their control over the narrow passage. The seizure occurred after forces allied with the UN-backed government abandoned the island, marking the latest in a series of Houthi advances along Yemen's west coast, including the port city of Mocha, which fell on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia, which backs the Yemeni government, launched air raids on Houthi positions in Mocha on Friday. The Bab al-Mandab strait connects the Red Sea and Suez Canal to the Indian Ocean, and Perim island is situated near its narrowest point. Approximately 12% of global trade typically passes through this strait.
Iran, an ally of the Houthis, hailed the advances in a statement on Friday. The escalation of fighting has coincided with oil prices rising above $100 a barrel. Full Houthi control of the Bab al-Mandab, combined with Iranian influence over the Strait of Hormuz, could significantly strengthen the chokehold of anti-western forces on global energy supplies.
British diplomatic sources indicated that US President Donald Trump is not expected to authorize bombing raids on Houthi positions in Yemen, despite requests from Saudi Arabia. Western nations are concerned about the rapid pace of Houthi advances and political divisions within Yemen, fearing that even the government's capital, Aden, could fall. The recent surge in fighting has displaced over 46,000 people, with many reportedly fleeing Mocha.