Iran-backed Houthis capture Perim Island, threatening Red Sea shipping lane
Source Summary
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels captured Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, according to officials. The seizure opens a new front in regional conflict and threatens energy supplies, particularly Saudi oil exports, transiting through one of the world's critical shipping lanes.
Why it matters
Control of Perim Island gives the Houthis strategic dominance over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical chokepoint through which major energy exports pass to global markets.
