Houthis seize strategic Perim Island and Dhubab near Bab el-Mandeb Strait

September 19, 2026 at 09:04 PM2 min

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Iran-backed Houthi forces seized the strategic Perim Island and the town of Dhubab near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key chokepoint for global shipping. The group says it will keep the waterway open except for Saudi vessels, even as analysts warn the move could escalate the Yemen conflict.

Key Facts

Houthi forces captured Perim Island and the town of Dhubab near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to the group's military spokesman Yahya Sari.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait carries about 7% of global oil shipments and is the southern gateway to the Suez Canal.
The Houthis say they will keep the waterway safe for all ships except those linked to Saudi Arabia, which they consider an enemy.
Yemen expert Ahmed Nagi said the battle is not over and Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government may launch a counterattack from Al-Dhale and Al-Bayda.
UN experts say the Houthis acquired drone and ballistic missile technology with direct help from Iran.

The Seizure

Iran-backed Houthi forces captured Perim Island and the town of Dhubab near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic chokepoint for global shipping. The group's military spokesman Yahya Sari said the Yemeni armed forces will keep the waterway safe for all companies except Saudi vessels, which are under a previous ban. Sari warned that any escalation by the enemy will be met with a counterstrike until the aggression stops and the blockade on the Yemeni people is lifted.

Global Shipping Impact

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is the southern gateway to the Suez Canal, linking Asia and Europe, and carries about 7% of global oil shipments. Major cargo carriers have already been forced to reroute around Africa, adding weeks to transit times and multiplying costs. If the Houthis fully block the strait, oil prices could spike and Iran would gain leverage in its standoff with the United States.

Conflict Escalation Risk

Yemen expert Ahmed Nagi said the Houthis have taken the western coast but the battle is not over, with a counterattack by Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government likely from Al-Dhale and Al-Bayda in the east. The Houthis began as a religious movement in the late 1990s and have grown into a powerful military force using drones and ballistic missiles. UN experts say the group acquired this weapons technology with direct help from Iran, while internal Yemeni political divisions also contributed to its rise. Baraa Shiban of the Royal United Services Institute noted that the internationally recognized Yemeni government is backed by a coalition, but in practice the UAE supports separatists while Saudi Arabia backs the government, creating rivalries that the Houthis exploited.