SANA'A, Yemen — Yemen’s Houthi movement has seized control of Perim Island (Mayyun) in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait after Yemeni government forces withdrew from the island a day earlier. Four Yemeni government sources told Reuters that Houthi fighters reached the island on Friday, while a local official told AFP that the group had effectively taken control of the strait area.
Perim sits at the narrowest point of the Bab el-Mandeb, dividing the waterway into two shipping channels, and has an airstrip. Government forces also lost Dhubab, a mainland town directly opposite the island. Witnesses said armed Houthi fighters were patrolling the shoreline in military vehicles after boats carrying fighters arrived.
The takeover is part of a week-long Houthi offensive along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The group captured the port city of Mocha and the Hanish islands on Thursday and also reportedly seized Zuqar Island. The Houthis already controlled about one-third of Yemen before the latest advance and have conducted missile and drone attacks against commercial ships using the Bab el-Mandeb for years.
The developments come as the Strait of Hormuz has remained effectively closed during the U.S.-Israeli air campaign against Iran, which began about six months ago. With Houthi forces now holding positions around Bab el-Mandeb, Iran-aligned forces are positioned near both major maritime corridors. Together, the routes historically handle more than a quarter of global seaborne crude oil and petroleum trade, while the Red Sea carries close to a third of global container traffic.
The disruption is already affecting Saudi oil supplies. The International Energy Agency said Saudi crude supply fell by 2.3 million barrels per day in August to 6 million barrels per day, the lowest level in more than three decades. The IEA attributed part of the decline to Houthi-linked attacks on shipping and energy facilities. Global oil prices remained above $100 a barrel, with Brent trading in the mid-$100s on Friday.
Smoke Reported Near Saudi Oil Pipeline
Satellite imagery verified by Reuters showed smoke on Thursday near Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline, also known as Petroline. NASA and NOAA-20 satellite data indicated a smoke plume stretching about 100 kilometers, along with sustained thermal hotspots southeast of Medina.
Fire data showed heat signatures exceeding 70 megawatts that continued for hours, which analysts said was significantly larger than routine gas flaring. Preliminary assessments identified six to eight possible impact points, raising the possibility of pipeline damage or rupture.
Saudi authorities and Saudi Aramco have not confirmed that the pipeline was attacked or damaged.
The East-West Pipeline has a capacity of about 7 million barrels per day and carries substantial Saudi crude volumes to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, providing an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. The pipeline was previously hit by an Iranian drone strike in April, reducing flows by 700,000 barrels per day for four days.
Iran, Saudi Arabia and U.S. Response
Reuters reported, citing Yemeni government, Iranian and regional sources, that the latest Houthi advance received direct guidance from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The sources said Tehran urged the Houthis last week to increase attacks on Saudi Arabia and promised additional funding, weapons and senior officers. Iran denies directing the Houthis and describes them as an ally rather than a proxy.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly spoke twice with U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday and requested U.S. strikes against the Houthis, according to Axios, citing two U.S. officials. Trump rejected the request. U.S. officials said Washington does not currently plan direct military action against the Houthis but is increasing support for Saudi Arabia, including intelligence sharing. About 200 U.S. military personnel are already in Saudi Arabia providing non-kinetic assistance.
The Financial Times also reported that Gulf and Iranian foreign ministers are scheduled to meet Monday in Salalah, Oman, to discuss a temporary arrangement for restoring commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
In Yemen, government forces said they are preparing a counteroffensive and will deploy weapons and aircraft to retake captured territory, including the road toward Mocha. Authorities warned civilians to avoid travelling between Taiz and Mocha. Saudi forces also carried out airstrikes on positions in Mocha on Friday, according to Houthi media.
A senior Houthi official said navigation through the Bab el-Mandeb remained safe for international shipping except for Saudi vessels, describing the group’s current actions as defensive.
The developments leave Saudi Arabia facing pressure on both of its major oil export routes while fighting continues around Yemen’s Red Sea coast and diplomatic efforts seek to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
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