Yemen's Houthi movement has completed its takeover of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the vital waterway linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, after seizing the island of Mayyun, also known as Perim. The rocky volcanic outpost splits the strait's narrowest section into two shipping lanes, and its capture gives the Iran-backed group effective command over one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints.
A local government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that armed Houthi fighters reached Mayyun Island after government forces withdrew. "The Houthis have completed their takeover of the Bab el-Mandeb area and Mayyun Island," the official said. An eyewitness reported gunmen deploying along the shore and driving military vehicles across the island.
The offensive, which began last week, has seen the Houthis seize the strategic port city of Mokha and the coastal town of Dhubab, along with Zuqar Island in the southern Red Sea. Videos circulating online, which could not be independently verified, appeared to show Houthi fighters celebrating in Mokha and confiscating weapons abandoned by government forces.
A chokepoint for global trade
The Bab el-Mandeb, whose Arabic name translates as "Gate of Tears," is a funnel for roughly one-third of the world's container traffic and over a quarter of seaborne crude oil and petroleum products. Together with Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the Houthi advance means that a significant portion of global energy and goods shipments now passes through areas under hostile control.
For Europe, the stakes are particularly high. The strait is the gateway for ships using the Suez Canal, the fastest route between Asian manufacturing hubs and European ports such as Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Marseille. Any sustained disruption would force vessels to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks to transit times and driving up costs for European consumers and businesses already grappling with energy price volatility.
The Houthis have previously targeted shipping in the waterway, and reports suggest they have consulted with Tehran on imposing a toll for safe passage. Such a move would further strain global economies and could escalate tensions with the United States, which has already conducted strikes on Houthi targets in response to earlier threats.
Regional and international reactions
Saudi Arabia, which backs Yemen's internationally recognised government, has responded with daily air strikes on Houthi-held areas. Riyadh has also signed a mutual defence pact with Turkey and Pakistan, though analysts doubt either would intervene directly. Pakistan's foreign ministry has described the agreement as a "defensive alliance focused on deterrence," with no immediate action planned.
Iran, the Houthis' main backer, issued its first public statement since the offensive, calling for an end to Saudi Arabia's blockade of Yemen and urging a resumption of talks. Tehran's foreign ministry stressed that Yemen's sovereignty must be respected, even as reports claim Iranian military advisors are assisting the Houthis on the ground.
Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, has appealed for international help to defend the country's coasts. "The protection of Yemen's coasts and the restoration of state control over its territory, ports and waters is a joint Yemeni, Egyptian, Arab and international interest," he said during a meeting with Egypt's ambassador.
The crisis has already contributed to a spike in oil prices, which surpassed $100 a barrel on Thursday. For Europe, which is heavily reliant on imported energy, the combination of the Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb disruptions could have severe consequences as winter approaches. The European Union has so far remained cautious, but the bloc's dependence on Red Sea shipping routes makes it a key stakeholder in any resolution.
As the Houthis consolidate their control over Yemen's entire Red Sea coast, the international community faces a stark choice: engage in a complex military and diplomatic effort to reopen the strait, or accept a new reality in which a key artery of global trade is held by a group with ties to Tehran. For now, the latter seems more likely, with Washington reportedly reluctant to enter another conflict while it remains engaged with Iran.
