Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis reached the strategic island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Friday, four Yemeni government sources told Probes Pakistan. Earlier, two sources from the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised Yemeni government said its forces had pulled out of Perim and that the Houthis had also taken the mainland Red Sea coastal town of Dhubab, which faces the island.
If the Houthis gain control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula from the Strait of Hormuz, it could give their backer Iran a critical advantage in its war with the US, reducing supplies through a second major corridor and further raising oil prices.
Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter and a close US ally, has relied on the Red Sea route since the conflict, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran six months ago, effectively closed Hormuz, previously a conduit for about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade.
Iran and the US have escalated attacks this week on Gulf shipping, while US President Donald Trump has jacked up economic pressure on Tehran. Diplomacy is largely stalled.
The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said maritime navigation remained safe for all shipping except Saudi vessels subject to a previously announced ban, vowing to continue their operations until the blockade on Yemen is lifted.