Report: Houthis Seize Strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait

The Houthis have expanded their control along Yemen’s coastline and completed their takeover of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most strategic shipping routes. According to an AFP report today (Friday), the forces seized Perim Island (Mayyun), located at the heart of the strait. At the same time, two Yemeni government sources told Reuters that the Houthis had also reached Dhubab, a coastal city situated on the strait.

The advance comes just one day after the Houthis took control of the port city of Al-Mokha, considered the main stronghold of the "National Resistance Forces" led by Tareq Saleh. Their continued movement southward has given the Houthis a significant foothold in the area linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, expanding their control to nearly the entire Yemeni coast along the Red Sea.

Perim Island holds strategic importance because of its location in the center of Bab el-Mandeb. The strait, which is about 29 kilometers wide, is divided by the island into two shipping lanes. Until now, the Houthi threat to ships relied mainly on missiles and drones launched from deep within Yemen, but control of the island and the nearby coast allows them to threaten vessels with artillery and other short-range weapons as well.

The area’s importance extends far beyond Yemen: Bab el-Mandeb connects the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea, and from there to the Suez Canal. Under normal circumstances, around 10% of global maritime trade passes through it.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman contacted U.S. President Donald Trump twice yesterday. According to Axios, he requested American strikes against the Houthis, but was turned down.

The appeals to Trump came amid the rapid escalation in Yemen and growing concern in Riyadh over the expansion of Houthi control in the area. Despite bin Salman’s request, American officials made clear that at this stage, the Trump administration does not intend to intervene directly in the fighting against the Houthis. Still, the U.S. is following developments with concern. The commander of U.S. Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, arrived in Saudi Arabia yesterday and held urgent coordination meetings.

At the same time, Washington is expected to expand assistance to Riyadh without entering the conflict itself. A senior American official said that the U.S. would provide the Saudis with intelligence on the Houthis and target data. Some 200 American military personnel are already stationed in the kingdom and are providing support to Saudi forces, but are not directly taking part in the fighting.

Meanwhile, the escalation with Saudi Arabia is also continuing. In recent days, the Houthis have attacked targets in Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Jazan with ballistic missiles and drones. According to the Saudi-led coalition, 73 people were injured in the latest attacks in the southern part of the kingdom.