Houthis Claim Perim Island Control and Mokha Port Capture

What changed

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have claimed control of Perim Island at the Bab al-Mandab Strait and captured the strategic port city of Mokha, according to BBC News. A Yemeni military official told AFP that the Houthis now control the entire western coastline, while witnesses and news agencies reported Houthi forces moving onto Perim after pro-government forces withdrew on Friday.

The offensive began on 3 September. The Houthis said maritime navigation remained safe except for Saudi vessels and claimed to have expelled Saudi-backed forces from six districts in Taiz and Hodeidah. At least 46,000 people have been displaced since the fighting escalated, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pressed US President Donald Trump to take military action, CBS News reported. Trump has declined direct US involvement so far, offering intelligence and targeting support instead. Saudi Arabia has conducted air strikes, while the Houthis have launched missiles and drones at southern Saudi cities and oil facilities.

Why it matters

Perim sits at the narrowest point of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a major Red Sea shipping route. Saudi Arabia relies on the waterway to ship oil to Asian customers, particularly after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed during the US-Iran conflict. The fighting has contributed to a surge in oil prices, according to the BBC.

If the Houthis can hold Perim and enforce their warning against Saudi vessels, the conflict could directly disrupt shipping and energy flows. Saudi Arabia would then face a choice between accepting a hostile force near a vital waterway and intensifying the war with outside support.

The advance may also deepen Yemen’s humanitarian crisis. Families have already been forced to flee repeatedly, and further Saudi air strikes or Houthi attacks could increase displacement.

What to watch next

• Whether Houthi forces can retain Perim, Mokha and the western coastline.
• Whether Saudi Arabia attacks the newly captured positions or seeks expanded US assistance.
• Whether the Houthis target Saudi shipping or oil infrastructure, and how commercial operators respond.
• Whether fighting around the Red Sea route drives further oil-price increases and displacement.