Houthi seizure of Red Sea island heightens risk to global oil routes

Iran‑backed Houthi fighters announced on Monday that they have seized a small but strategically vital island in the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait, the narrow waterway that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. NPR reported that the capture could disrupt the flow of Saudi oil through one of the world’s busiest commercial lanes, and that Riyadh responded by shutting down a major oil pipeline as a precaution after it was struck.

The island, whose name has not been disclosed for security reasons, sits near the narrowest point of the strait, where vessels often funnel through to reach the Suez Canal. Control of the outpost gives the Houthis a foothold to monitor, and potentially threaten, the heavy traffic of tankers that carry a significant share of daily global oil shipments. Saudi officials have warned that any further escalation could force rerouting of vessels, adding time and cost to already strained supply chains.

The move follows a pattern of maritime aggression by the Houthi movement since the conflict in Yemen intensified in 2015. Over the past year, the rebels have launched dozens of missile and drone attacks on commercial ships, prompting an international naval presence aimed at protecting merchant traffic. The Bab el‑Mandeb has long been a chokepoint; even brief disruptions can ripple through global energy markets, as the strait handles roughly 10 percent of the world’s seaborne oil trade.

Saudi Arabia’s decision to halt the East‑West Crude Oil Pipeline – which transports oil from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea coast – underscores the perceived vulnerability of its export infrastructure. According to NPR, the pipeline was temporarily taken offline after an alleged Houthi strike, a step taken to safeguard both the facility and the broader flow of petroleum products.

Analysts note that the island’s capture could be a bargaining chip for the Houthis in ongoing negotiations with the Saudi‑led coalition. It also raises questions about Iran’s role, as Tehran has supplied the rebels with weapons capable of striking maritime targets. The international community is watching closely, with the United Nations urging all parties to respect the safety of civilian shipping and to avoid actions that could further destabilise a region already fraught with tension.