Houthis Capture Key Island in Red Sea, Threatening Oil Exports
The Yemeni Houthi rebels have captured Mayun Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key shipping route for Saudi Arabia's oil exports. The move has been seen as a strategic gain for Iran and its allies in the region.
The island, also known as Perim, is located near the port city of Mokha and controls access to one of the world's most important shipping lanes. The capture has raised concerns about the safety of oil tankers passing through the strait, with experts predicting that it could lead to a surge in crude prices.
The Houthi rebels have been attacking Saudi shipping in the Red Sea since July, when they declared a blockade on the kingdom's oil exports. The move has put pressure on Riyadh to find alternative routes for its crude, including sending it through the Suez Canal or via a pipeline in Egypt.
The conflict has also sparked calls from Iran for an end to Saudi Arabia's blockade of Houthi-held areas and a return to negotiations between the two parties. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has stated that any negotiated settlement with the US must include Yemen, highlighting the importance of the conflict in the region.