Houthi Moves Threaten Saudi Oil Ships in Bab el-Mandeb Strait
- The offensive, launched on September 3 by the Iran-backed militia, gives the group dominance over a vital maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
- The territorial gains heighten the Houthis' capacity to target Saudi tankers transiting the crucial shipping lane for oil exports.
- Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Iranian supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, congratulated the Houthi movement on their victory on Friday.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have seized control of Perim Island, also known as Mayyun Island, along with the strategic port city of Mokha, establishing complete control over the country’s Red Sea coastline and tightening their grip on the critical Bab al-Mandab Strait, according to military sources cited by Daily Mail.
The offensive, launched on September 3 by the Iran-backed militia, gives the group dominance over a vital maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesman, stated that the large-scale military operation was a response to Saudi Arabia’s aggression against the people of Yemen, adding that navigation through the strait remains safe for all vessels except those linked to Saudi Arabia. A local official with Yemen’s Saudi-backed government confirmed that the group completed its takeover of the Bab al-Mandab area, alongside Greater and Lesser Hanish islands.
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Strategic Impact on Regional Oil Shippers
The territorial gains heighten the Houthis’ capacity to target Saudi tankers transiting the crucial shipping lane for oil exports. Saudi Arabia, recognized as the world’s largest oil exporter, has relied heavily on the Red Sea route since tensions and blockages around the Strait of Hormuz choked off shipments through the Persian Gulf. Farea Al-Muslimi, a research fellow at the Chatham House think-tank, told Daily Mail that the development means Iran now controls both major Middle Eastern maritime chokepoints.
Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Iranian supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, congratulated the Houthi movement on their victory on Friday. The escalation follows a week-long offensive that left hundreds dead and displaced pro-government forces from their last remaining footholds along the western coast.
Diplomatic Pressures and Pipeline Disruptions
Amid the rapid territorial losses, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally urged United States President Donald Trump to launch direct military action against the Houthis, according to two sources cited by CBS News. However, President Trump resisted calls to commit American forces to the ground campaign, opting instead to offer intelligence and targeted support. A senior Trump administration official told the BBC that Washington remains in continuous dialogue with Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s government regarding regional stability.
https://x.com/Iran_in_India/status/2098757325951733883
The territorial and maritime shifts coincide with a drone attack originating from Iraqi territory that struck a critical Saudi oil pipeline. The incident forced Saudi Arabia to temporarily close the infrastructure route, threatening global crude supplies and pushing oil prices higher.