Iran-backed Houthis seize key island, opening new front in Iran war

CAIRO — Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels seized a strategic island at the southern entrance to the Red Sea on Friday, according to two officials, marking a significant territorial expansion for the group and posing a new threat to Saudi oil exports through one of the world's key shipping lanes. This marks the Houthi's largest gains in years along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and could potentially be used by Iran to drive up global oil and gas prices, putting pressure on the United States.

Saudi Arabia retaliated by attacking the airport in the nearby port city of Mokha, which the Houthis had seized the previous day, though there were no reports of damage or fatalities. The capture of Mayun, also known as Perim, a small, barren volcanic island situated within the strait, was confirmed by a senior military official from Yemen's internationally recognized government and a Houthi representative, both citing anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak to journalists.

The Red Sea, a vital shipping route, is heavily reliant on Saudi crude oil exports, with Saudi Arabia increasingly utilizing the Red Sea as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran exerts control.