Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi forces have reached the strategic island of Perim and the mainland town of Dhubab, according to Yemeni government sources, tightening their position around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Bab el-Mandeb links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is a crucial passage for trade moving between Asia and Europe through the Suez Canal. At its narrowest point, the waterway is approximately 18 miles wide.
The advance is particularly significant because disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has already placed pressure on global energy transportation. Greater insecurity around Bab el-Mandeb could threaten another major route used by oil tankers and commercial vessels.
Perim Island sits directly inside the strait, while Dhubab provides access from Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Control of both locations could improve the Houthis’ ability to monitor traffic and threaten ships passing through the channel.
Yemeni government forces are reportedly preparing efforts to regain lost territory, but the balance on the coast remains uncertain. Saudi Arabia and the United States are also assessing how to support maritime security without widening the regional conflict.
Shipping companies have previously diverted vessels around the Cape of Good Hope when attacks made the Red Sea route too dangerous. Such diversions lengthen journeys, increase fuel and insurance costs and can contribute to higher prices worldwide.
Governments and commercial operators will now watch for evidence of new attacks or restrictions on navigation. The developing situation makes the security of Bab el-Mandeb a central concern for regional diplomacy and the global economy.
Sources: Reuters: Houthi advance to Perim; Reuters explainer on Bab el-Mandeb.
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