Yemen’s Houthi forces have seized the strategic Perim Island in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, tightening their control over the vital global shipping lane and escalating the regional conflict. The advance, part of an offensive that began on September 3, 2026, followed the capture of the port city of Mocha and has pushed global crude oil prices above $100 a barrel, increasing pressure on the United States and its allies.

A Yemeni government official told Xinhua that Houthi naval forces landed on the island, also known as Mayun Island, early on Friday and took control without resistance after government troops withdrew overnight. The official stated the Houthis now have a “full grip” over the Bab al-Mandab area, which divides the narrow waterway into two channels.

The capture marks a major expansion of Houthi control along Yemen’s western coast. A Yemeni military official said government forces have since withdrawn to regroup near the southern port city of Aden, the temporary seat of Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The move has prompted Saudi Arabia to seek U.S. military assistance, though Washington has so far limited its support to intelligence and targeting aid.