{
  "id": 6770935,
  "title": "Iran-backed Houthis seize key island, opening new front in Iran war",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/iran-backed-houthis-seize-key-island-opening-new-front-in-iran-war-6770935",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-11T16:02:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20260912/iran-backed-houthis-seize-key-island-opening-new-front-in-iran-war"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Yemen's Houthi rebels, supported by Iran, seized control of a strategic island at the southern entrance to the Red Sea on Friday, according to two officials. This marks the Houthi rebels' biggest territorial gains in years along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The island, known as Mayun or Perim, could potentially boost Iran's strategy of driving up global oil and gas prices to put pressure on the United States.\n\nSaudi Arabia responded by attacking the airport in the nearby port city of Mokha, the island the Houthis had seized the previous day, according to a Houthi broadcaster. However, there were no reports of damage or casualties from the Saudi strike. Both a senior military official with Yemen's internationally recognized government and a Houthi official confirmed the capture of Mayun, a tiny, barren volcanic island inside the strait, on condition of anonymity due to their lack of authorization to speak with journalists.\n\nThe Red Sea has become increasingly important for Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, as an alternative route for transporting crude to global markets, aside from the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has a significant presence.",
  "summary": "CAIRO — Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels captured a strategic island at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, two officials said Friday, opening a new front in the Iran war and further threatening Saudi oil exports through one of the world’s key shipping lanes. The Houthis’ biggest territorial gains in years, along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait , could boost Iran’s strategy of driving up world oil…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Times of Israel",
        "title": "Trump said to reject Saudi request for strikes on Houthis, as rebels seize Red Sea island",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/trump-said-to-reject-saudi-request-for-strikes-on-houthis-as-rebels",
        "published": "2026-09-11T10:30:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Houthis seize Perim Island as Yemeni forces down five drones",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/houthis-seize-perim-island-as-yemeni-forces-down-five-drones",
        "published": "2026-09-11T13:12:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Iran-backed Houthis seize Yemen's entire Red Sea coast, 3 strategic islands",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/iran-backed-houthis-seize-yemens-entire-red-sea-coast-3-strategic",
        "published": "2026-09-11T15:36:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Iran-backed Houthis seize key island, opening new front in Iran war",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/iran-backed-houthis-seize-key-island-opening-new-front-in-iran-war",
        "published": "2026-09-11T15:37:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthis seize an island in a key strait, opening a new front in the Iran war",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/yemens-iranian-backed-houthis-seize-an-island-in-a-key-strait-opening",
        "published": "2026-09-11T15:54:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Yemen’s Houthis reach strategic island at mouth of vital Bab el-Mandeb shipping lane",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/yemens-houthis-reach-strategic-island-at-mouth-of-vital-bab-el-mandeb",
        "published": "2026-09-11T16:21:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Houthis seize strategic Perim Island in Bab el-Mandab",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/houthis-seize-strategic-perim-island-in-bab-el-mandab",
        "published": "2026-09-11T16:29:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Houthis claim major advance in Yemen and tighten grip on Red Sea shipping lane",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/houthis-claim-major-advance-in-yemen-and-tighten-grip-on-red-sea",
        "published": "2026-09-11T16:58:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "UN says Yemen’s Houthis seized humanitarian facility in Mocha",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/un-says-yemens-houthis-seized-humanitarian-facility-in-mocha",
        "published": "2026-09-11T18:28:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Iran-backed Houthis seize near control of vital Bab el-Mandeb shipping lane",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/iran-backed-houthis-seize-near-control-of-vital-bab-el-mandeb",
        "published": "2026-09-11T20:09:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}