The Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) has captured the strategic port town of Murad and the island of Mayyun in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, according to The Zioneer. The group asserts that the strait is now completely under its control, marking a significant escalation in its campaign along Yemen's Red Sea coast.
Early Friday morning, The Zioneer reported that Houthi forces (Ansar Allah) have captured the strategic port town of Murad and the island of Mayyun in the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The group asserts that the strait is now completely under its control.
The capture follows a rapid Houthi offensive along Yemen's Red Sea coast. Earlier today, at 00:45 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that the Houthis had captured the entire western coast of Yemen and were advancing toward the Bab el-Mandeb strait. On September 10, The Zioneer detailed the Houthi capture of the strategic port city of Mocha and the Al-Omari military base, including the Zubayr airport runway, placing Houthi forces within 30 kilometers of the strait.
Mayyun island, also known as Perim Island, sits at the narrowest point of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, approximately 29 kilometers wide. Control of the island and the port of Murad gives the Houthis the ability to monitor and potentially interdict maritime traffic through one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. The strait serves as the southern gateway to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, and is a vital route for global trade and Israeli energy imports.
The claim of complete control has not been independently verified. The Zioneer continues to track the situation.
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