The Houthis continue to open new fronts at the Bab el-Mandeb itself, amid reports of an operation and possible landing on the strategic island of Mayun (Perim), just hours after the capture of Mocha and their advance toward the Hanish Islands.
Reports from the field claim that Houthi forces have moved toward Mayun. So far, however, there is no independent confirmation that the island has been captured or that stable control has been established. The report carries particular weight because of the island’s location at the narrowest section of the Bab el-Mandeb.
Reuters confirms that, following the capture of Mocha, the Houthis reached the Hanish Islands and pushed government forces farther south toward Dhubab, which lies directly opposite Mayun. Government military sources stressed that control of Dhubab and Mayun is key to controlling the strait.
Mayun effectively divides the Bab el-Mandeb into two shipping channels. The strait is only around 29 kilometers wide at its narrowest point and is one of the world’s most important routes for transporting oil and goods between Asia, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
The possible operation on Mayun shows that the Houthi advance is not stopping at Mocha. Pressure is now extending toward positions that directly control the entrance to the Bab el-Mandeb, dramatically increasing concerns over international shipping and global trade.
At the same time, Zuqar Island has also fallen into Houthi hands. The largest and most strategically important of the island positions in the area has already been captured. Government military sources report that the Houthis launched missile strikes against Zuqar and the Hanish Islands before carrying out an amphibious assault.
