Iran-backed Houthis seize strategic Mayun Island: Can they hold it?

Houthi fighters have taken control of Mayun (Perim) Island in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, establishing a physical outpost on the narrow corridor that forms the southern gateway to the Red Sea. The capture was publicly confirmed on Friday by a senior official from Yemen’s internationally recognised military and by a Houthi official, according to The Associated Press. The island, a roughly 13 sq km volcanic landmass, divides the strait into two channels and has been contested in recent years. Analysts say the move significantly enhances the Houthis’ tactical position. With surrounding coastal areas already under Houthi control and the recent seizure of Mocha, the group can operate closer to passing shipping and, if it chooses, interdict traffic through the strait. Security analyst Wolfgang Pusztai told Al Jazeera the advance gives the Houthis the capability to shut down maritime traffic through Bab al-Mandeb, a development that could also strengthen Iran’s bargaining position in its wider confrontation with the United States. The takeover has direct implications for international trade and energy markets. The Bab al-Mandeb is a critical chokepoint linking the Red Sea to global routes via the Suez Canal; the article notes it has grown in importance following the reported March closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the US–Israel war on Iran. The Houthis have previously attacked more than 100 commercial vessels between November 2023 and mid-2025, and while they say they will not target general shipping aside from vessels linked to Saudi Arabia, some past strikes have hit ships without clear connections to Riyadh or its allies. Economists warn that renewed disruption could raise war-risk insurance and charter rates and produce inflationary pressures across multiple commodity markets. Whether the Houthis can hold Mayun over the long term is uncertain. Experts say their short-term position is strong because of control over nearby coastal territory, but the island itself would be hard to defend indefinitely against a determined amphibious assault. Retaking Mayun would demand substantial effort from Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, who reportedly withdrew quickly as the Houthis advanced. Observers emphasise that maintaining control of the mainland coastline and its hinterland will be crucial to holding the island in any sustained contest.