Houthis Capture Perim Island as Red Sea Shipping and Oil Routes Face New Risk

Iran-aligned Houthi forces have captured the strategic island of Perim, also known as Mayun, in Yemen’s Bab al-Mandab Strait, further expanding their control over one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.

The capture came after forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognised government withdrew from the island. It followed the Houthis’ seizure of the Red Sea port of Mocha a day earlier, marking a rapid expansion of their control along Yemen’s western coastline.

The development is significant because Perim sits in the middle of the Bab al-Mandab, dividing the strait into two navigation channels. Control of the island gives the Houthis a strategically important position close to the southern entrance of the Red Sea.

Why Perim Island Matters

The Bab al-Mandab connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean. Ships using the route can continue through the Red Sea toward the Suez Canal, making the strait an important link between Asian, Middle Eastern and European markets.

Perim’s location makes it particularly valuable. The volcanic island lies close to the narrowest part of the strait and has historically been viewed as a strategic military and maritime position.

Reuters reported that the Houthi capture could give Iran and its allies greater leverage over a second major oil transit corridor at a time when the Strait of Hormuz is already facing severe disruption.

Saudi Oil Exports Face Greater Pressure

The development is especially important for Saudi Arabia. With shipping through the Strait of Hormuz severely disrupted, Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on its Red Sea coastline and western export infrastructure to move crude.

That makes the Bab al-Mandab increasingly important as an alternative route for energy shipments.

The Houthi advance does not automatically mean that the entire Bab al-Mandab has been closed to commercial shipping. However, control of Perim and nearby coastal territory increases the group’s ability to threaten or restrict maritime traffic.

The Houthis have previously used missiles and drones against ships in and around the Red Sea. Their latest territorial gains therefore raise concerns about whether commercial operators will continue to view the route as sufficiently safe.

Mocha Capture Preceded Island Takeover

The seizure of Perim came shortly after the Houthis captured Mocha, a strategically located port city on Yemen’s Red Sea coast.

The rapid advance has exposed divisions and weaknesses among forces supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government. Government troops reportedly withdrew from Perim before Houthi fighters arrived on the island.

Saudi Arabia has responded with airstrikes against Houthi positions. The latest fighting represents a major escalation after years of relative calm following the UN-brokered truce that reduced large-scale fighting in Yemen in 2022.

Iran-Houthi Alliance Raises Regional Stakes

The Houthis have maintained a close relationship with Iran since their rise to power in Yemen. Tehran has provided political and military support to the movement, although Iran has historically rejected descriptions portraying the Houthis simply as a force directly controlled by Tehran.

Iran has welcomed the latest Houthi advances, adding another layer to the wider confrontation involving Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States.

The strategic concern for Western governments is that Iranian influence could now extend across both ends of major maritime energy routes: the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf and the Bab al-Mandab at the southern entrance to the Red Sea.

What Happens to Global Oil Prices?

Oil prices have already moved above $100 a barrel amid the wider regional conflict and disruption to major shipping routes.

A prolonged threat to Bab al-Mandab could add another risk premium to crude prices because shipping companies and energy traders would have to account for the possibility of attacks, insurance increases, delays and longer alternative routes.

The consequences would extend beyond oil. The Red Sea is also a major commercial corridor linking Asia and Europe. If ships are forced to avoid the route, vessels may have to travel around the Cape of Good Hope, adding significant time and fuel costs.

The experience of the Red Sea shipping crisis in 2024 demonstrated how quickly attacks on commercial vessels can force major shipping companies to reroute vessels and disrupt supply chains.

Humanitarian Cost Mounts

The military escalation is also creating a growing humanitarian emergency in Yemen.

The UN migration agency said the renewed offensive had killed more than 500 people and displaced around 46,000 people, according to the source report.

The fighting has also raised concerns that the conflict could expand beyond the western coastline. Western governments are watching the situation closely because further Houthi advances could threaten the position of Yemen’s internationally recognised government in Aden.

Key Takeaways

• Houthi forces have captured Perim, or Mayun, Island in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
• The island sits at a strategically important point dividing the strait into two shipping channels.
• The capture follows the Houthis’ seizure of the Red Sea port of Mocha.
• Saudi Arabia is increasingly dependent on Red Sea routes because of disruption around the Strait of Hormuz.
• The development could increase risks for oil tankers and other commercial vessels.
• Oil prices have already moved above $100 a barrel amid wider regional supply concerns.
• A full closure of Bab al-Mandab has not been established; the immediate risk is increased insecurity and potential disruption.
• The latest offensive is also worsening Yemen’s humanitarian crisis.

Why This Matters

The capture of Perim is strategically important because it adds another major maritime chokepoint to an already disrupted global energy system. The combination of instability around Hormuz and growing Houthi control near Bab al-Mandab could make the Red Sea a much more important factor in oil prices, shipping costs and global supply chains.

However, control of Perim should not automatically be interpreted as a complete closure of the Bab al-Mandab. The immediate impact will depend on whether the Houthis attempt to enforce restrictions on commercial shipping, whether Saudi and allied forces can regain the territory, and how international shipping companies respond.