Yemen's Houthis seize Perim Island at narrowest point of Bab el-Mandeb Strait after government withdrawal

Houthi fighters seized Perim Island (also known as Mayyun) in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on 11 September after Yemeni government forces withdrew the previous day. The island sits at the narrowest point of one of the world's most critical shipping lanes, tightening Houthi control over maritime traffic between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Why it matters: The Houthis now hold both shores of Bab el-Mandeb's choke point; every commercial and military vessel transiting between Europe and Asia passes within visual range of Houthi-controlled territory.