Houthis Secure Perim Island, Stretching Their Hold on Red Sea Route
In a rapid campaign that has sent shock waves through the Gulf of Aden, Yemen’s Iran‑backed Houthi movement claimed control of Perim Island—at the mouth of the Bab al‑Mandab Strait—just days after seizing the port city of Mokha.
A dozen Houthi fighters pose on a sea backdrop, photographed by EPA/Shutterstock.
The drop to Perim follows an earlier victory at Mokha, where Houthi forces overran Saudi‑backed troops. Government‑recognised officials say the movements have plunged Yemen’s western coast into a grey‑smoke war zone, threatening the vital shipping lane used by oil tankers and cargo vessels.
Perim Island sits at the narrowest point of the Bab al‑Mandab, the juncture where the Red Sea joins the Gulf of Aden. Coastal tribes and strategic checkpoints on the island provide a gateway to the maritime corridor that stretches from Jeddah to Djibouti.
Map of Yemen showing Perim, Dhubab and Mokha island dots.
The Houthi spokesman Yahya Sarea declared the operation a “success” and warned that “maritime navigation is safe for all companies except for Saudi vessels.” A senior U.S. official has offered intelligence support but declined to involve U.S. forces directly, citing diplomatic constraints.
While the Houthi capture of Perim is a strategic win, the broader conflict has already displaced tens of thousands in the country. The International Organization for Migration reports that the refugee count is “alarmingly rising by the hour,” underscoring the escalating humanitarian crisis.
Oil traders keep the region under close scrutiny. Stagflation and recent U.S. and Houthi strikes in southern Saudi Arabia have pushed oil prices close to $100 per barrel—a first since July. Shipping companies, however, face new operational risks as Houthi forces claim control over a critical transit point.
With the Houthi movement tightening its net around key maritime nodes, the next days will be decisive for regional security, shipping logistics and the global energy market. The international community watches as Yemen’s fragile balance teeters on a new front.
