Houthi seizure of Perim Island raises stakes in Bab al-Mandeb
The island offers a strategic foothold at the Red Sea’s southern entrance, a vital shipping route linking Asia and Europe.
Yemeni Houthi rebels seized Perim Island on Friday, giving them increased leverage over the Bab al-Mandeb, the maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
What happened: Houthi boats reached Perim on Friday after Yemeni government forces withdrew from the island, according to four government sources cited by Reuters. A Houthi official told the New Arab on Friday that the group had taken control of the territory. The seizure came a day after the group captured the port city of Mokha, on Yemen’s western coast.
A video circulating on social media appears to show armed Houthi fighters on the island.
The Houthis continued their advances on Friday, reaching the strategic island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Reuters reported. This comes one day after the Houthis seized the historic Red Sea port city of Mocha and pushed south toward Dhubab, tightening their grip near the… pic.twitter.com/ULWrDk5dHx
— AL-MONITOR (@AlMonitor) September 11, 2026
