Houthi forces seize control of Yemen's Red Sea coast and strategic islands

Supported by Iran, Houthi rebels in Yemen completed a rapid 72-hour offensive this Friday, successfully seizing control of the country's entire Red Sea coastline and critical islands within the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Government officials confirmed the fall of strategic coastal cities including Mocha and the occupation of Perim (Mayun) island, which sits at the center of the vital waterway connecting the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea. The collapse of defensive positions followed a lack of expected air support from Saudi Arabia.

This military escalation significantly disrupts global energy security, as the Bab el-Mandeb strait handles roughly 12% of global trade and 7% of oil supplies. With the Strait of Hormuz already de facto blocked by Iranian operations, Saudi Arabia’s attempts to reroute oil exports through the Red Sea face an immediate threat. While Houthi leadership has promised safe passage to international shipping, they explicitly excluded Saudi Arabia from this guarantee. International observers, including the Kremlin and the Cypriot government, expressed deep concern over the expansion of the regional conflict and the potential for a new, uncontrollable maritime crisis.