Yemen's Houthis complete takeover of Bab al-Mandab area: govt official to AFP

Yemen's Houthis have taken complete control of the strategic Red Sea island Mayyun Island, located in the Bab al-Mandab strait, completing their push to gain control of the crucial waterway, according to local government officials and eyewitnesses. The Iran-backed rebels, who have controlled large parts of northern Yemen for years, launched a large-scale offensive against Saudi-backed government forces last week, resulting in a series of victories that have left hundreds of people dead.

Saudi Arabia has responded with airstrikes, including two recent attacks on Mocha airport, according to Houthi media. The Houthis have deployed gunmen along the Bab al-Mandab shore and are driving around in military vehicles, with the control of the island crucial as it sits in the middle of the strait, linking Asia to Europe via the Red Sea and Suez Canal.

The ongoing fighting in Yemen has taken center-stage in the Middle East conflict, which erupted with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, prompting the Islamic republic to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, another vital waterway for global energy flows.