Houthis Seize Key Island in Global Shipping Route
The Houthis have reached the strategic island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is located at the mouth of a vital global shipping route. The Iranian-aligned group has also taken control of the mainland Red Sea coastal town of Dhubab, which faces the island.
This development could give Iran a critical advantage in its war with the US by reducing supplies through another major transit corridor and sending oil prices surging. Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, relies on the Red Sea route since the Iran conflict effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, which carries a fifth of global oil.
The Houthis' advance down Yemen's Red Sea coast came with direct guidance from Iran's Revolutionary Guards, seeking to open a new front in Tehran's war with the US. Iranian sources said Tehran promised more funding, weapons, and senior officers to help the Houthis escalate their attacks on Saudi Arabia, a close US ally.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called President Donald Trump twice to urge him to launch strikes against the Houthis, but Trump rejected the request. The US administration does not intend to take direct military action against the Houthis at this time, according to Axios.