Houthis seize Mayyun Island, tightening grip on Bab al-Mandab strait

Houthis announced on Friday that they had taken control of Mayyun Island, also known as Perim, at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The move completes their capture of the entire Yemeni coast along the Bab al-Mandab strait, including the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands.

It is a radical negative change for the US and for the West.

The capture was confirmed by a senior official of Yemen’s internationally recognised government, who said all territory on the western coast now lies under rebel control. The island’s position splits the strait into two shipping lanes, making it a strategic point for vessels travelling to and from the Gulf.

Strategic implications

By holding Mayyun and the nearby port city of Dhubab, the rebels can monitor, and potentially block, traffic destined for Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government has already warned of a ban on its vessels, and the Houthis’ military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the blockade will continue until what he called “the aggression stops”.

Analysts note that the strait is a narrow bottleneck; even a brief closure could shave days off the transit time for crude destined for Europe and Asia. Oil benchmarks have already shown modest upticks as traders price in the new risk.

Potential fallout

Western governments are likely to increase naval patrols to assure freedom of navigation. The United States, which has a longstanding presence in the region, may consider diplomatic or kinetic options to deter further escalation.

Iran, the Houthis’ patron, praised the advance as a “resounding victory”, according to an adviser to the supreme leader. Tehran’s endorsement could deepen the proxy dimension of the conflict, complicating any de‑escalation talks.

In the short term, shipping companies are expected to review route plans and insurance premiums. Longer‑term outcomes will depend on whether the rebels use their new leverage to extract concessions or whether external powers intervene to reopen the waterway.