Houthis Seize Perim Island in Bab El-Mandeb Strait, Threatening Saudi Oil Route

Iran-aligned Houthi forces have reportedly taken control of Perim Island, also known as Mayun, in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, marking a significant territorial advance with potential consequences for global shipping and Saudi Arabia’s alternative oil-export route. Yemeni government sources said the development followed the withdrawal of government-backed forces from the strategically located island.

The Houthis have also reached Dhubab, a Yemeni coastal town positioned directly opposite Perim Island across the narrow strait, according to Yemeni government sources. Four government sources confirmed that Houthi forces had reached the island, while two Saudi-backed officials earlier said the group had captured the mainland town as well. The reports indicate that the Houthis may now have positions on both sides of the waterway.

Perim is a small volcanic island located approximately 3.5 kilometres off Yemen’s western coast. Its position gives it a commanding view of the Bab el-Mandeb, a vital maritime passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and linking the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal route. Control or influence around the island could allow the Houthis to monitor or threaten vessels passing through the chokepoint.

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The capture is particularly significant because disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have increased reliance on the Red Sea as an alternative corridor for energy shipments. Saudi Arabia has increasingly used routes across the Red Sea to transport crude after Iran effectively restricted traffic through Hormuz, a waterway that previously handled around one-fifth of global oil supplies. Greater Houthi control near Bab el-Mandeb could therefore provide the group and its Iranian backers with additional leverage over Saudi energy exports.

The implications extend beyond the oil trade. The Bab el-Mandeb is one of the world’s most important commercial shipping routes, with around 12 per cent of global goods typically passing through the waterway. Any threat to navigation could raise insurance costs, delay shipments and force vessels to take longer routes around the southern tip of Africa, increasing transportation time and fuel expenses.

The reported advance comes amid heightened regional tensions and growing concern over the security of maritime corridors in the Middle East. The Houthi presence on Perim and near Dhubab could complicate efforts by Saudi-backed Yemeni forces and international partners to secure the route. It also raises the possibility of further pressure on shipping, energy markets and regional security arrangements if the group consolidates its positions around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

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