Yemen’s Iran aligned Houthi forces have reached the strategically important Perim island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, tightening their position around a key global maritime chokepoint and raising concerns over further disruption to international shipping and oil supplies.
Four Yemeni government sources told Reuters on September 11 that Houthi forces had reached the island after government-backed forces withdrew. Two sources also said the Houthis had captured the mainland Red Sea coastal town of Dhubab, which faces Perim.
Control of the Bab el-Mandeb would give the Houthis a strategically significant position opposite the Strait of Hormuz, another crucial oil and shipping corridor. The development could increase pressure on global energy markets, particularly as shipping through Hormuz has already been severely disrupted amid the widening conflict between Iran and the United States.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter and a key US ally, has increasingly relied on alternative routes to move crude after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The kingdom uses its East-West oil pipeline to transport oil from its eastern fields towards the Red Sea, allowing exports to bypass Hormuz.
Satellite imagery reviewed by Reuters also showed smoke near the route of Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline on September 10. Saudi authorities had not confirmed any incident in the area, and the source of the smoke remained unclear.
The developments come as global oil markets face increasing supply concerns. Saudi 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, according to the International Energy Agency. The agency attributed part of the decline to attacks on vessels using the Bab el-Mandeb route by groups linked to the Houthis.
Oil prices were on course to finish the week above $100 a barrel for the first time since mid May.
The Houthi advance follows a broader offensive along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Houthi forces reportedly captured the strategic port city of Mocha and the Hanish islands earlier in the week, prompting Yemen’s internationally recognised government to announce plans for a counter-offensive.
Yemeni government forces said they would deploy weapons and aircraft against Houthi positions in strategic areas, including routes leading towards Mocha. Officials also warned civilians to avoid key roads in areas where fighting could intensify.
The latest developments have raised concerns that Yemen could become another major front in the broader US-Iran conflict. Reuters reported that Iranian Revolutionary Guard officials had provided direct guidance to the Houthis for their recent offensive, citing Yemeni, Iranian and regional sources. Iran has publicly denied directing the group militarily and describes the Houthis as an ally rather than a proxy.
Saudi Arabia has meanwhile sought greater US support. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly spoke with US President Donald Trump at least twice on September 10 seeking military assistance against the Houthis, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
The United States reportedly declined to take direct military action for now but offered intelligence sharing and targeting assistance.
The developments around Perim add another layer of risk to an already fragile global shipping system. Any sustained Houthi control or disruption around the Bab el-Mandeb could affect vessels travelling between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, potentially forcing ships to take longer routes around Africa and adding further pressure to freight, insurance and energy costs.