Chiara Nava The balance of power in the Middle East is once again shifting along one of the planet's most sensitive maritime routes. The Houthis , a Yemeni movement backed by Iran, have reportedly seized control of the islands of Greater Hanish and Lesser Hanish, the last remaining positions held by forces of the internationally recognized Yemeni government in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
At the same time, the group also reportedly conquered Perim , known by its Arabic name Mayyun, the island that bisects the navigable canals between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. This sequence of advances threatens to further alter the military and commercial balance of power in the region. The advance reportedly began with the conquest of Mocha, a historic port on the Red Sea, and the advance south along the coast.
“ Everything that was under our control on the west coast has fallen ,” a Yemeni military official was quoted as saying by AFP.
Houthis: Control of the Strait and the New Maritime Front
The strategic value of the conquered islands far exceeds their size. Bab el-Mandeb , in fact, is approximately 29 kilometers wide and represents one of the main passages for international naval traffic.
Perim divides the Strait into two navigable channels, while the Hanish Islands lie further north, between Hodeidah and Mocha, in a convenient position to deter approaching ships. The conquest of the islands thus opens a second maritime front.
The Houthis already control much of northern Yemen , including the capital Sanaa, but they could now gain island positions directly overlooking one of the most important gateways between Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The movement would no longer be limited to targeting trade routes from the mainland: control of Perim and the Hanish Islands would allow them to exert more direct pressure on maritime traffic . In this scenario, Tehran is reportedly seeking to strengthen a regional network linking the Houthis to Iraqi militias, with the aim of threatening American allies in the Gulf through a coordinated strategy.
Saudi Arabia's position and the Houthis' response
The situation is particularly challenging for Saudi Arabia . Riyadh cannot allow the Houthis to consolidate their dominant position on the Bab el-Mandeb, but direct military intervention would risk reopening a conflict the Saudis had tried to quell. According to reports, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has asked Donald Trump for direct American military intervention against the Houthis. Washington, however, has reportedly offered more limited support, focusing on intelligence and targeting.
The Houthis , meanwhile, are trying to downplay the international consequences of their conquest. Hazem al-Assad, a member of the movement's political bureau, declared that international navigation through the Bab el-Mandeb and the Red Sea would be " safe and orderly ." Spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam also maintained that freedom of navigation remains guaranteed, while specifying that the group's operations will continue against what he calls the targets of its " aggression " against Yemen. These statements, however, do not undermine the strategic significance of the advance. Control of the islands could transform the Bab el-Mandeb into a new military and commercial pressure point, with potentially significant consequences for the safety of navigation and the international balance of power in the Red Sea.