SANAA – US-Iran war reached Red Sea and amid dramatic escalation of US-Iran war, Yemen’s Houthis stormed key Perim Island in Bab el-Mandeb Strait, putting another vital global shipping route directly in the crosshairs.
The move came after government forces pulled back from the island, while Houthi fighters also seized Dhubab, a coastal town on Yemen’s Red Sea shoreline directly opposite Perim. For global shipping and energy markets, the location of these gains is what makes the latest development so significant.
Perim sits in the middle of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the narrow passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Any sustained Houthi presence there could give the group a powerful position from which to threaten or disrupt ships moving through the waterway. And the timing could hardly be more sensitive.
Hormuz, another critical energy corridor on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula, already been severely disrupted amid the Iran conflict. With Hormuz under pressure, the Red Sea route has become increasingly important for Saudi Arabia and other oil producers. A serious disruption at Bab el-Mandeb could therefore turn an already difficult energy crisis into a much bigger one.
Saudi Arabia is particularly exposed to the developments. The kingdom has been relying more heavily on its East-West oil pipeline, which carries crude from the oil-rich eastern region toward the Red Sea. The route gives Riyadh a way to move oil without depending entirely on the Strait of Hormuz.
But fresh concerns emerged after satellite images showed smoke near the pipeline. There has been no confirmation that the pipeline was attacked, and Saudi authorities have not publicly linked the smoke to any incident.
Still, the timing has raised questions because the pipeline has become a vital part of Saudi Arabia’s strategy for keeping its oil exports moving while Hormuz remains heavily disrupted.
The pressure on the kingdom’s energy exports is already becoming visible. Saudi crude supply dropped by around 2.3 million barrels per day in August, falling to roughly 6 million barrels per day. That was the lowest level recorded in more than three decades.
Disruption involving ships travelling through the Bab el-Mandeb area and attacks linked to the Houthi movement were among the factors affecting Saudi oil flows. If the Houthis manage to maintain their position around the strait, concerns over future supplies could intensify quickly.
The developments are also being closely watched by oil traders. Global crude prices were heading toward $100 a barrel and above, marking their strongest levels in months as investors weighed the possibility of further disruption to major shipping routes.
If both Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb become difficult or dangerous to navigate, the world’s oil supply chain could face a major bottleneck. That could mean higher transportation costs, tighter supplies and another jump in fuel prices across international markets.
The move onto Perim Island is only the latest in a rapid Houthi advance. The group recently captured Mocha, a strategically important coastal city, as well as the Hanish Islands. Government forces have now signalled that they intend to fight back.
Yemeni military spokesman Colonel Majed al-Nazili said government forces would use aircraft and other weapons against Houthi positions and movements in strategic areas. Civilians have also been warned to stay away from the road connecting Taiz and Mocha and to avoid Houthi military equipment. The offensive represents a notable shift in the Yemen conflict.
Instead of focusing mainly on their traditional northern strongholds, the Houthis are now pushing aggressively toward the country’s long Red Sea coastline, putting them closer to one of the world’s most important maritime routes.
The latest Houthi gains have also intensified concerns about Iran’s role in the conflict. Iran long maintained close ties with the Houthis but denies directing their military operations. However, reports have emerged that Iranian Revolutionary Guard personnel have provided guidance to the group during its latest offensive.
Iran has also reportedly encouraged the Houthis to increase pressure on Saudi Arabia, while offering additional funding, weapons and senior personnel.
If those claims are accurate, the Houthi advance could be more than a local Yemeni offensive. It could become another battlefield in the wider confrontation between Iran and the United States.
Riyadh looking at Washington
Saudi Arabia is already watching the situation closely and has carried out strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. But Riyadh appears to want stronger action from Washington.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly spoke twice with US President Donald Trump on Thursday, urging him to strike Houthi positions. Trump reportedly declined.
For Washington, the situation presents a difficult choice. A stronger US military response could help protect Saudi Arabia and international shipping, but it could also pull the United States directly into another front at a time when the wider regional conflict is already escalating.
At the same time, regional governments are trying to find a way to keep the crisis from spreading further. Gulf foreign ministers are expected to meet Iran’s foreign minister in Salalah, Oman, as diplomatic efforts focus on finding a temporary arrangement to keep commercial shipping moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
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