Yemen's Houthis reach Perim Island near Bab el-Mandeb Strait

September 12, 2026 at 10:33 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Yemen's Iran-allied Houthis reached Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Friday, positioning themselves to control a chokepoint for about 7% of world oil shipments and 12% of global trade. The advance creates a new problem for Washington as its conflict with Iran continues. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked President Donald Trump for military help against the Houthis, but Washington has so far declined direct involvement.

Key Facts

Houthi forces reached Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Friday after capturing the Red Sea coastal city of Mokha.
About 7% of world oil shipments and 12% of global trade pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked U.S. President Donald Trump for military assistance against the Houthis in a phone call.
Washington has declined direct involvement in the conflict but offered intelligence sharing.
Before the war, roughly one-fifth of world oil shipments passed through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been significantly restricted by the U.S.-Iran conflict.

Houthi Advance

Houthi forces reached Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Friday, according to Reuters. The island lies between Yemen and Africa at the midpoint of the strait. The Houthis had earlier captured the Red Sea coastal city of Mokha and advanced southward.

Strategic Chokepoint

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is one of the world's most important maritime trade routes. About 7% of world oil shipments and 12% of global trade pass through the strait, Reuters reported. A Houthi closure of the strait could disrupt oil transport and add pressure on energy prices. The situation is compounded by restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, where the U.S.-Iran war has already limited shipping. Before the war, roughly one-fifth of world oil shipments passed through Hormuz.

U.S. and Saudi Response

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump to request military help against the Houthis, Reuters sources said. Washington has so far declined direct involvement in the conflict but is ready to provide intelligence information. For the U.S., the situation is double-edged: a halt to shipping through Bab el-Mandeb could raise oil prices and disrupt world trade, while a new military operation against the Houthis would strain U.S. forces and risk widening the Yemen conflict.