Armed men stand on the beach as the Galaxy Leader commercial ship, seized by Yemen's Houthis last month, is anchored off the coast of al-Salif, Yemen, December 5, 2023. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah/File Photo.
Houthis capture Perim Island, expanding control over Bab el-Mandeb
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Houthi advances target a critical shipping corridor as Saudi crude exports hit a multi-decade low.
- Move follows Hormuz closure, East-West Pipeline attacks, and oil prices rising above $100 a barrel.
Iran-aligned Houthi forces advanced to the strategic island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Friday, following a withdrawal by Yemeni government forces, tightening their grip on a pivotal maritime trade choke point.
Yemeni government sources confirmed that pro-government forces pulled back from Perim, allowing Houthi fighters to capture the island alongside the mainland Red Sea coastal town of Dhubab.
The advance follows the capture of the nearby town of Mocha and the Hanish islands a day prior.
The territorial gains in the Red Sea provide Iran and its regional allies leverage over a second major maritime trade channel while the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively shut down.
Pipeline strikes
The Houthi offensive along the coast comes as Saudi Arabia faces severe disruptions to its alternative export routes.
Satellite imagery verified on Thursday showed smoke along the kingdom's East-West oil pipeline—a critical bypass around the Strait of Hormuz—which was temporarily shut down following attacks that resulted in injuries.
Data released by the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Friday showed Saudi crude exports fell by 2.3 million barrels per day in August to 6 million bpd, marking the lowest level in over thirty years, largely due to Houthi attacks targeting shipping near Bab el-Mandeb.
Oil prices remained on track to end the week above $100 per barrel.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that commercial navigation remains open to all shipping, except for Saudi vessels subject to an ongoing blockade.
"We will continue to enforce blockade for blockade and escalation for escalation until the aggression stops and the blockade on our people is lifted," Saree declared.
Meanwhile, Yemeni government forces announced plans for a counter-offensive to retake lost coastal territory.
Diplomatic efforts remain active, with Iran confirming that representatives from Iraq and Gulf Arab states will meet in Oman on Monday to discuss safe commercial passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
