Yemen's Houthis Seize Key Port City, Strategic Island Near Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Houthi rebels in Yemen have captured the strategic port city of Mokha on the country's west coast, advancing towards critical points near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a vital global shipping lane. The rebels also reportedly seized Perim Island (also known as Mayun), located in the narrowest part of the strait, according to Qatari channel Al-Araby. While international confirmation for the island's capture is pending, four government military sources confirmed Mokha's fall to Reuters, with AP also receiving confirmation from both sides of the conflict. Residents described Houthi fighters and vehicles blocking roads and forcing businesses to close, prompting an exodus of civilians and medical personnel southward towards Aden.
Mokha, situated approximately 80 kilometers north of the Bab el-Mandeb, served as a key port, command center, and supply base for forces loyal to Tareq Saleh. Saleh acknowledged ordering a retreat south to establish an alternative command center, stating his forces paid a "heavy price in dead and wounded" during an Iranian-backed offensive. The Houthis have also reportedly taken control of supply routes connecting Taiz to the western coast and reached the Hanish Islands, pushing government forces towards Dhubab, opposite Perim Island.
The capture of Perim Island, which divides the strait into two shipping channels and is only three kilometers from Yemen's coast, is particularly significant. The island hosts an airstrip and military infrastructure, and its control would give the Houthis a physical presence within a major global trade chokepoint. While full closure of the strait might not be feasible, the Houthis could disrupt shipping through anti-ship missiles, drones, explosive boats, and mines, potentially increasing insurance costs and forcing shipping companies to reroute around Africa.
This development is especially concerning given existing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia has increased oil exports via the Red Sea port of Yanbu, but tankers bound for Asia must transit the Bab el-Mandeb. This dual pressure point could allow Iran and its Yemeni allies to exert significant leverage over two key maritime exit routes from the Arabian Peninsula. Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam asserted that international shipping remains safe and that operations are targeted, but Western observers are likely to view this promise with skepticism, given past experiences where even the threat of Houthi action has disrupted trade between Asia and Europe.
