The Houthi movement has seized the strategic coastal town of Zuwab and Perim Island directly within the Bab el-Mandeb strait, according to government sources and eyewitnesses. The territorial advances give the group direct operational control over one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints for global cargo shipping, intensifying an ongoing conflict that has already displaced at least 46,000 people according to United Nations figures.
Houthi Forces Seize Perim Island and Zuwab
Armed Houthi fighters deployed via small boats to Perim Island, also known as Mayon Island, which divides the Bab el-Mandeb strait into two distinct shipping channels. The deployment followed the withdrawal of government forces from the island, according to a local official speaking to Reuters and Agence France-Presse on condition of anonymity. Eyewitnesses confirmed that combatants are now patrolling the shoreline and moving through the area in military vehicles. These actions follow the movement’s capture of the Red Sea port city of Mokha in Taiz Governorate. Yemeni military sources told Reuters that Houthi units also reached the Hanish Islands in the Red Sea, prompting government forces and allied factions to retreat south along the coast toward Zuwab.
U.S. Declines Saudi Strike Request as Regional Talks Open
In Washington, Axios reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made two phone calls to U.S. President Donald Trump urging direct military strikes against Houthi positions. President Trump rejected the request, and U.S. officials stated that the administration does not plan direct military action in Yemen at this time. To coordinate a response, Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper traveled to Saudi Arabia for urgent talks. Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed growing regional insecurity by phone. While the foreign ministries did not explicitly link the call to the ongoing fighting in Yemen, separate Iranian statements maintained that military intervention cannot resolve the crisis.
Did you know? According to the United Nations International Organization for Migration, at least 46,000 people have been displaced in the southwest of Yemen since the latest round of fighting erupted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who controls the Bab el-Mandeb strait now?
Government sources and eyewitnesses report that Houthi forces have taken control of Zuwab and Perim Island, establishing a presence at the crucial maritime corridor following the withdrawal of government troops.
What was the U.S. response to Saudi requests for military intervention?
According to Axios, President Donald Trump declined a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to carry out direct military strikes against the Houthi movement.
How many people have been displaced by the recent escalation?
The International Organization for Migration reported that at least 46,000 individuals have been forced from their homes since the renewed fighting began in southwest Yemen.
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