Houthis Seize Key Oil Transit Route Amid Middle East Tensions

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have strengthened their control over critical oil transit routes in the Middle East by capturing Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key global shipping lane.

Yemeni government forces withdrew from the region, giving the Houthis a strategic edge in the broader conflict. Saudi Arabia faces increased pressure on its oil supply chain as tensions escalate.

The US has declined military intervention in response to Riyadh's appeals, leaving diplomatic avenues as potential solutions to the crisis.