Houthis claim major advance in Yemen and tighten grip on Red Sea shipping lane

ByElla Kipling and Jaroslav Lukiv.

Key points

• At least 46, 000 individuals have been displaced in Yemen since fighting escalated with Yemen's administration and Saudi Arabia, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
• Saudi Arabia has been relying on the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait for shipping oil to customers in Asia.
• Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea remarked the "large-scale" military operation was rolled out on 3 September due to Saudi Arabia's "blatant aggression" against "our dear people".
• The Houthis ousted the internationally-recognised administration in 2015, triggering Saudi military intervention in the civil war.
• Oil hits $100 a barrel for first time since July after US and Houthi strikes.

Yemen's Houthis have asserted a major advance on the western Red Sea coast, consolidating their grip on the key international shipping route.

In practice, the Iran-backed group seized Perim Island at the mouth of the waterway in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a source from Yemen's internationally recognised administration informed the BBC.

It comes a day after the Houthis captured the strategic port city of Mokha from Saudi-backed pro-government forces, according to military sources. A Yemeni military official informed the AFP news agency the Houthis now control the entire coastline.

Notably, the Houthis earlier remarked they posed no threat to international shipping but reiterated their threat to target vessels from Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country's de facto ruler, has personally pressed US President Donald Trump to take military action against the Houthis during their rapid advance, two sources familiar with the matter informed CBS News – the BBC's media partner in North America.

Trump has so far declined to involve the US military directly, offering instead to assist with intelligence and targeting backing, the sources stated.

For context, a senior Trump administration official afterwards informed the BBC: "We are in continuous dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen government regarding regional stability."

On Friday, Yemeni pro-government forces withdrew from Perim (additionally known as Mayyun).

Witnesses and news agencies documented that Houthi forces moved on to the island.

Meanwhile, the Houthis afterwards issued a statement, saying that their military operation to expel Saudi-backed forces had been a "success" and that "maritime navigation is safe for all companies except for Saudi vessels".

Sarea additionally stated the Houthis had expelled "Saudi enemy" forces from six districts in the Taiz and Hodeidah regions, claiming that hundreds of troops had been killed, wounded or captured. The Houthi statement, nevertheless, did not mention Perim Island. Saudi Arabia has not publicly commented on the latest developments.

Perim Island sits at the narrowest point of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. It has become increasingly significant after the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz – another crucial waterway – in the conflict between the US and Iran.

Notably, the escalation of the conflict between the Houthis, Yemen's administration and Saudi Arabia has contributed to a surge in oil costs.

Hundreds of individuals have reportedly been killed and thousands displaced in Yemen since the Houthis rolled out an offensive in the south-west a week ago.

For context, a Saudi-led coalition has additionally carried out air strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in western Yemen in backing of the pro-government forces, and the Houthis have introduced missiles and drones at cities and oil facilities in southern Saudi Arabia.

Notably, the Saudi foreign affairs ministry remarked on Friday that drones from Iraq had targeted the country's East-West oil pipeline, forcing it to be closed as a "precautionary measure" and injuring a number of individuals.

Iraq's administration condemned the attack and its prime minister has rolled out an investigation.

In an official note, the prime minister's office remarked the operations commander in the Maysan governorate – a province which borders Iran – had been removed from his post after confirmation the drone attack had originated from that region.

After a call from Iraq's prime minister, it had chosen not to respond to the attacks at this stage, saudi Arabia's foreign ministry remarked that.

Lightning Houthi advance in Yemen may bring dangerous new dimension to Iran war.

Saudi Arabia vows to respond after Houthis attack cities and energy facilities.

On Friday, the IOM remarked the number was "alarmingly rising by the hour".

Amy Pope, IOM director general, remarked: "Families are being forced to flee for the second or third time in this conflict, with almost nothing left."

For context, the Houthis ousted the internationally-recognised administration in 2015, triggering Saudi military intervention in the civil war.

Notably, the group at present control much of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa. A truce that had largely held for more than four years effectively collapsed in July.

Taken together, the developments around houthis claim major advance in Yemen and tighten grip on Red Sea point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.