Houthis Seize Strategic Red Sea Island Amid Escalating Conflict
The Houthi group has taken control of Perim Island in the Red Sea, a strategic location at the mouth of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The island's seizure is seen as a significant advance for the Iran-backed Houthis, who have been escalating their fighting in recent weeks.
Perim Island sits at the narrowest point of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which has become increasingly important following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia relies heavily on this route to ship oil to customers in Asia.
The Houthis have claimed that their military operation to expel Saudi-backed forces from Perim Island was a success and that maritime navigation is safe for all companies except those from Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has not publicly commented on the latest developments, but the Houthi's move marks a significant escalation in the conflict. The fighting has already displaced at least 46,000 people in Yemen, with numbers rising by the hour, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).