Houthi Advance Toward Bab al-Mandeb Raises Fresh Global Shipping Fears
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have advanced along the Red Sea coast after reportedly capturing the strategic port city of Mocha. The offensive brings them closer to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a vital route for global shipping and energy supplies. Attention is now focused on Perim Island, also known as Mayyun. The island lies in the narrow strait between Yemen and the African coast, linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Yemeni government sources say the Houthis have reached the Hanish Islands, while government-aligned forces have been pushed south toward Dhubab. Any further advance toward the strait could deepen disruption risks for oil and commodity shipments between the Middle East, Europe and Asia. About 7% of global oil output passes through the Bab al-Mandeb waterway, making control of the area strategically important in the wider Yemen conflict.
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