Yemen's Houthis reach strategic island at mouth of vital shipping lane

Yemen's Houthis have seized the strategic island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial global shipping route, according to Yemeni government sources. This move comes as the conflict in the Middle East intensifies. Earlier reports indicated that Yemeni government forces had withdrawn from Perim and had also taken the Red Sea coastal town of Dhubab.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, located on the Arabian Peninsula, is a vital international waterway. If the Houthis gain control of the Strait, it could provide Iran, a key ally of the Houthis, a significant advantage in its conflict with the U.S. This could lead to reduced supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, another major shipping route, and potentially cause oil prices to surge.

Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, has been relying on the Red Sea route for its crude exports since the Iran conflict closed the Strait of Hormuz. Smoke was observed near a Saudi oil pipeline on Thursday, which has become a critical conduit for diverting crude exports from Hormuz. However, there is no official confirmation from the Saudi government regarding the smoke.

The Saudi government media office and Aramco, the state oil giant, have not commented on the smoke. The East-West pipeline has been instrumental in maintaining Saudi crude supply, which fell to 6 million barrels per day in August, the lowest level in over three decades, due to attacks on ships in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Global oil prices are near a record high of $100 a barrel, following reports of a potential deal to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Yemeni government forces plan to retake the areas seized by the Houthis along the Red Sea coastline, including the road to Mocha and the islands of Hanish. They have deployed weapons and aircraft to eliminate any "terrorist" Houthi movements in these strategic areas. The Houthis' advance along the Red Sea coast appears to have been guided by Iran's Revolutionary Guards, who have been seeking to open a new front in Tehran's war with the U.S. Iran has promised funding, weapons, and senior officers to help the Houthis, though it denies providing military direction.

Despite Saudi Arabia's airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, the kingdom has not targeted the strategic areas captured by the Houthis. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has urged the U.S. President to launch strikes against the Houthis, but President Trump has rejected the request. The U.S. is concerned about the escalating conflict in Yemen and is providing support to Saudi Arabia while avoiding direct military involvement.

Regional foreign ministers plan to meet with their Iranian counterpart in Oman to work on a temporary deal to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.