Houthis claim major advance in Yemen and Red Sea shipping
Yemen's Houthis claim capture of Perim Island and Mokha port along the Red Sea, tightening grip on shipping lanes as oil prices surge.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Yemen's Houthis claim a major territorial advance along the western Red Sea coast.
- The group seized Perim Island in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the port city of Mokha.
- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pressed US President Donald Trump for military action.
- The IOM reports at least 46,000 displaced people as the conflict escalates rapidly.
Yemen's Houthi movement has claimed a major territorial advance on the western Red Sea coast, consolidating its control over a vital international maritime trade route. The development comes as fighting between the Houthis, the internationally recognized government of Yemen, and Saudi Arabia intensifies significantly across the southwestern region.
According to a source from Yemen's recognized government speaking to the BBC, the Iran-backed group has seized Perim Island, also known as Mayyun, located at the mouth of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. This strategic takeover occurred just a day after Houthi forces captured the strategic port city of Mokha from Saudi-backed pro-government forces, with an AFP military source confirming that the Houthis now control the entire coastline.
Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of the kingdom, personally urged US President Donald Trump to authorize direct military action against the Houthis during their rapid advance, as reported by two sources familiar with the matter to CBS News, the BBC's North American partner.
President Trump has thus far declined to involve the US military directly in the conflict, offering instead to provide intelligence and targeting support to assist allied efforts. A senior official in the Trump administration later told the BBC that continuous diplomatic dialogues are underway with Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government to preserve regional stability.
"Families are being forced to flee for the second or third time in this conflict, with almost nothing left."
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The strategic escalation around the Bab al-Mandab Strait carries profound implications for global energy markets. As a critical choke point connecting Asian markets with European trade via the Red Sea, the heightened Houthi control—combined with disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz—has severely strained oil tanker routes and pushed global oil prices above 100 dollars per barrel for the first time since July.
The International Organization for Migration reported that at least 46,000 individuals have been displaced within Yemen since the offensive began a week ago, noting that the figures are alarmingly rising by the hour. While Saudi-led coalition air strikes continue to target Houthi positions in western Yemen, the humanitarian crisis deepens as thousands of families are forced to flee repeatedly with virtually no possessions left.
Source: BBC World
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