Yemeni government sources report that Houthi forces have reached the strategic island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait early this morning. The island lies at the narrowest point of the vital maritime chokepoint, giving effective control over the southern gateway. The advance follows the capture of Mayyun Island and the port of Mocha in recent days, as the Iran-backed group tightens its grip on the waterway.
Early Friday morning, Yemeni government sources confirmed that Houthi forces have reached the strategic island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The island sits at the narrowest point of the waterway, approximately 29 kilometers wide, positioning the Iran-backed group to monitor and interdict maritime traffic through one of the world's most critical chokepoints.
The Zioneer has been tracking the rapid Houthi offensive along Yemen's western coast since Thursday. At 04:31 Jerusalem on Thursday, The Zioneer reported that Houthi forces had captured the towns of Hays and Al-Khawkha, securing over 2,000 square kilometers of territory. By late Thursday morning, the group had entered the strategic port city of Mocha, with Yemeni government officials confirming the capture hours later. Conflicting reports emerged on Thursday that Houthi forces had landed on Perim Island, but those accounts remained unconfirmed. At 10:26 Jerusalem on Friday, prominent Yemeni factions confirmed that Houthi forces had captured Mayyun Island and the port town of Murad, effectively granting the group territorial control over the strait's southern approaches. The confirmation of their arrival on Perim Island now marks the latest stage in the offensive.
The Houthi advance has been conducted in coordination with Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) elements, as The Zioneer reported on Thursday. The group has seized over 2,500 square kilometers along the coast in recent days, pushing Saudi-aligned forces southward. Perim Island's location gives those who hold it effective command over the strait's southern entrance, a strategic prize that would allow the Houthis to enforce a blockade of Red Sea shipping. The development marks a significant escalation from long-range missile and drone attacks to direct territorial control of the maritime corridor. Saudi Arabia earlier announced a naval coalition to secure the waterway, and international reaction is expected.
Independent verification of the Houthi presence on Perim Island has not yet been achieved. The extent of their control over the island and the status of any remaining forces there remain unclear.
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