Houthis Advance on Bab el-Mandeb, Raising New Threat to Global Shipping

Iran-aligned Houthi forces have reached Yemen’s strategic Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to four Yemeni government sources cited by Reuters, raising fresh concerns over the security of one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.

Two sources from Yemen’s Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government separately told Reuters that government forces had withdrawn from Perim and that the Houthis had captured the nearby coastal town of Dhubab. The town lies directly opposite Perim and provides a strategically important position overlooking the narrow waterway.

The Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is a critical route for commercial shipping and energy supplies travelling between Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Reuters reported that gaining control of Perim and Dhubab would significantly strengthen the Houthis’ ability to threaten traffic through the strait.

The development comes as the wider conflict between Iran and the United States continues to disrupt energy markets. The Strait of Hormuz, another major oil-shipping chokepoint, has been severely affected by the conflict, increasing the strategic importance of alternative routes through the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on its East-West oil pipeline to move crude from its eastern oil-producing region to the Red Sea, bypassing Hormuz. Reuters reported that satellite imagery verified by the news agency showed black smoke near the pipeline on Thursday. Saudi authorities and state oil company Aramco had not confirmed any incident there.

The impact on oil markets is already significant. The International Energy Agency said Saudi Arabia’s crude supply fell by 2.3 million barrels per day in August to about 6 million barrels per day, its lowest level in more than three decades. The IEA attributed part of the decline to attacks on shipping and energy infrastructure linked to the Houthi conflict.

Global oil prices were also on track for a weekly gain of more than 8%. On Friday, Brent crude was trading around $104 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate was near $99, according to Reuters market data.

Yemeni government forces have said they intend to launch a counter-offensive to recover territory seized by the Houthis, including the Red Sea port city of Mocha and the Hanish islands.

Reuters previously reported, citing Yemeni, Iranian and regional sources, that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had provided guidance, weapons and other support to the Houthis during their rapid advance. Tehran denies directing the group militarily and rejects the description of the Houthis as an Iranian proxy.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has reportedly sought greater U.S. involvement against the Houthis. Reuters, citing an Axios report and U.S. officials, said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged President Donald Trump to authorize strikes against the group, but Trump declined. Washington is reportedly seeking to support Riyadh while avoiding direct military involvement in Yemen.

The latest Houthi advance therefore adds another layer of risk to an already fragile regional shipping network. Any sustained disruption of both Bab el-Mandeb and Hormuz could further tighten global energy supplies, increase transportation costs and prolong volatility in international oil markets.

Source: Reuters