Houthis Seize Perim Island, Take Full Control of Red Sea Chokepoint

Yemen's Houthi rebels have seized Perim Island, also known as Mayyun, at the mouth of the Bab al-Mandab Strait — the narrow waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden through which a significant portion of global shipping passes. The development came a day after the Iran-backed group captured the strategic port city of Mokha from Saudi-backed pro-government forces.

Full Coastline Under Houthi Control

A source from Yemen's internationally recognised government confirmed the island's fall to the BBC. A Yemeni military official told AFP that the Houthis now control the entire western coastline of the Red Sea. Pro-government forces withdrew from Perim on Friday, with witnesses and news agencies reporting Houthi troops moving onto the island shortly after.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the large-scale operation was launched on 3 September in response to Saudi Arabia's "blatant aggression" against the Yemeni people. He claimed the group had also expelled Saudi-backed forces from six districts in the Taiz and Hodeidah regions and that hundreds of troops had been captured or neutralised.

Trump Declines Saudi Request for Military Action

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally called US President Donald Trump multiple times asking him to take direct military action against the Houthis during their rapid advance, two sources familiar with the matter told CBS News. Trump declined to send US forces, offering intelligence and targeting assistance instead.

A senior Trump administration official told the BBC: "We are in continuous dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen government regarding regional stability."

Threat to Global Shipping

The Houthis issued a statement declaring that maritime navigation remained safe for all shipping companies except those operating Saudi vessels. However, analysts note that Houthi control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait — through which an estimated 10 percent of global trade transits — poses a severe threat to international commerce and energy supplies. The strait is considered one of the world's most critical chokepoints alongside the Suez Canal.