Houthis Seize Strategic Island at Red Sea Entrance, Threatening Saudi Oil Exports

The Houthis, an Iranian-backed rebel group in Yemen, has captured a strategic island at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, further threatening oil exports from Saudi Arabia. The island, known as Mayun or Perim, is located inside the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world's key shipping lanes.

The capture comes after the Houthis made their biggest territorial gains in years along the Red Sea coast, and it has opened a new front in the Iran war. The Houthi armed forces have boasted of their gains, vowing to escalate the confrontation with Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia's government said it had shut down a major pipeline after it was attacked the day before, calling the shutdown 'a precautionary measure.' The kingdom blamed several drones that came from Iraq for the attack. The Iraqi government condemned the assault and ordered an investigation.