Houthis seize Perim Island in Red Sea

Container ship transiting a narrow Red Sea chokepoint, highlighting regional risk to global trade routes

Key Points

01Houthi forces have seized Perim Island in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait
02The group has also captured the strategic Red Sea port city of Mokha
03Perim Island sits on a key shipping route linking Asia and Europe
04Houthi spokesman says shipping is safe for all but Saudi vessels

Houthis gain control of key Red Sea positions

Iran-backed Houthi forces have seized Perim Island in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a narrow passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Yemeni government officials and other sources described the takeover as the result of days of intense fighting along Yemen’s western coastline.

The capture of Perim Island followed a rapid advance in which Houthi fighters also took the Red Sea port city of Mokha over 10–11 September 2026. Together, these gains extend Houthi control along an important section of Yemen’s coast and place the group in a stronger position near a major maritime chokepoint.

Strategic importance of Perim and Bab al-Mandeb

Perim Island divides the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which forms the southern gateway to a trade corridor that links Asia and Europe. Large volumes of commercial and energy shipments pass through this route between the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.

By gaining a foothold on Perim, Houthi forces are now positioned at the heart of this narrow passage. Analysts have highlighted that such control allows the group to exert greater influence over vessels transiting the area, at a time when other regional oil routes are already under pressure.

Houthi messaging on maritime traffic

In public statements after the advance, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said that maritime navigation in the area is safe for all companies except Saudi ones. The statement framed the operation as a success and claimed that Saudi-aligned forces had been expelled from stretches of Yemen’s western coast.

The Houthis have presented their new positions as a means to pressure Saudi Arabia specifically, while signalling to other shipping interests that they do not intend to halt broader commercial traffic. Their messaging seeks to distinguish between Saudi-linked vessels and other ships using the Bab al-Mandeb route.

Regional and market implications

The new Houthi foothold on Perim Island comes amid wider tensions involving oil exports from the Middle East. Control of a second major chokepoint after other constraints in the region has raised concerns about the resilience of global energy supply chains that depend on Red Sea routes.

Energy markets have been sensitive to disruptions and perceived risks around strategic waterways, and the latest fighting in and around Bab al-Mandeb has contributed to renewed focus on the security of shipping lanes. The situation underscores how developments in Yemen’s conflict can have broader implications for trade between Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Key Takeaways

01Houthi control of Perim Island and Mokha places the group directly on a critical maritime corridor between the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal.
02By declaring shipping safe for all but Saudi vessels, the Houthis are combining military gains with targeted pressure on Saudi interests.
03The consolidation of Houthi positions along Yemen’s western coast increases their leverage over Red Sea shipping and heightens attention on global energy routes.

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