Houthis Expand Control to Mayun Island, Threatening Bab al-Mandab Passage

In a rapid offensive on Friday morning, Houthi fighters occupied Mayun Island, a key point within the Bab al-Mandab strait. A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the militants arrived by boat and faced no defensive fire before establishing control.

The occupiers subsequently positioned armored vehicles and heavy equipment along the island’s perimeter, solidifying their presence. This follows the earlier capture of the strategic port city of Mocha, after Yemeni government forces retreated southward.

Mayun Island, also referred to as Perim, lies at the heart of the Bab al-Mandab, a narrow chokepoint that splits the waterway into two shipping channels. By securing the island, the Houthis now have direct oversight of a vital segment of the route linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and, ultimately, the Arabian Sea.

The United Nations has warned that the ongoing fighting and the Houthis’ expanding maritime foothold could jeopardize international navigation freedoms and heighten the risk of a broader geopolitical dispute.