Houthis announce capture of Perim Island, expanding Red Sea dominance

The Iran‑backed Houthi movement declared on Tuesday that it has seized Perim Island, a tiny landmass that sits at the southern entrance of the Red Sea. The claim, reported by BBC News, marks what the rebels describe as a "major advance" in their campaign to control the waterway that links the Suez Canal with the Gulf of Aden.

Perim, part of the strategically vital Bab al‑Mandab strait, sits between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa. Control of the island gives any power the ability to monitor, and potentially disrupt, the flow of commercial vessels that transport a significant share of the world’s oil and container traffic. The Houthis said their forces now have a foothold that will allow them to enforce a broader maritime presence.

The announcement follows a series of attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea that have raised concerns among global insurers and naval forces. Since late 2023, the Houthis have launched missile and drone strikes on vessels they claim are linked to Israel, prompting a multinational naval response that includes U.S., French, and Saudi warships. The seizure of Perim, if verified, would represent a new phase in the conflict, shifting from offshore harassment to a more permanent territorial foothold.

Analysts note that the Houthis have previously focused on coastal ports such as Hodeidah and Al‑Mokha, but an island in the narrowest part of the strait offers a strategic choke point. Historically, control of Bab al‑Mandab has been contested by regional powers because it can affect global trade routes. A Houthi presence there could force shipping companies to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks to transit times and inflating freight costs.

The broader war in Yemen, now in its ninth year, has drawn in regional actors and created a humanitarian crisis that the United Nations says has left millions in need of aid. The Houthis, backed by Iran, have leveraged their naval capabilities to pressure adversaries and gain leverage in peace talks. Whether the claimed occupation of Perim will translate into lasting control remains uncertain, but it underscores the expanding maritime dimension of the Yemeni conflict.

International observers will be watching for confirmation of the island’s status and any subsequent moves by naval coalitions tasked with keeping the Red Sea open for commerce.