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Yemen’s Houthi rebels have taken control of Mayyun Island, a strategically located territory in the Bab al-Mandeb shipping route, tightening their grip over one of the world’s most important maritime passages, according to a local government official and eyewitnesses who spoke to AFP.
The takeover reportedly followed the withdrawal of government forces from the island, also known as Perim, which sits in the middle of the narrow strait connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
“Boats carrying armed Houthi fighters reached Mayyun Island after government forces withdrew from it yesterday,” the official said.
The official, who spoke anonymously, said the move completed the Houthis’ efforts to control the Bab al-Mandeb area, adding that “the Houthis have completed their takeover of the Bab al-Mandab area and Mayyun Island, which is located in the middle of the strait.”
An eyewitness said armed fighters had begun establishing their presence along the coastline, with gunmen “deploying along the Bab al-Mandab shore and driving around in military vehicles.”
The development comes after an offensive by the Iran-backed Houthis against forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognised government around the strategic waterway. Hundreds of people have reportedly lost their lives since the fighting began.
Bab al-Mandeb has gained increased attention because it its a major global shipping route, particularly amid the wider Middle East conflict, which previously saw disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz.
The government official said the number of Houthi fighters stationed on Mayyun Island was “not large,” suggesting the group could focus on positions on higher ground overlooking the waterway.
The Bab al-Mandeb area includes four strategic islands: Zuqar, which the Houthis seized on Thursday, Mayyun, and the two Hanish islands.
Government military sources told AFP that Houthi forces have also surrounded troops stationed on the Hanish islands. The sources said they were uncertain about the condition of more than 2,000 government soldiers there but believed the fighters had demanded their surrender.
A senior military official said the besieged troops had appealed for assistance, requesting “rescue, food and water, and the lifting of the siege,” which he said would require air support.
The reported capture of Mayyun Island could further reshape control over the Bab al-Mandeb corridor, a route vital to international shipping and regional security.
