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

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

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

The Houthis later 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”.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the “large-scale” military operation was launched on 3 September due to Saudi Arabia’s “blatant aggression” against “our dear people”.

Sarea also said 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, however, 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, which has become increasingly important following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz – another crucial waterway – in the conflict between the US and Iran.

Saudi Arabia has been relying on the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait for shipping oil to customers in Asia.

The escalation of the conflict between the Houthis, Yemen’s government and Saudi Arabia has contributed to a surge in oil prices.

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

A Saudi-led coalition has also carried out air strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in western Yemen in support of the pro-government forces, and the Houthis have launched missiles and drones at cities and oil facilities in southern Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi foreign affairs ministry said 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 several people.

Iraq’s government condemned the attack and its prime minister has launched an investigation.

In a statement, the prime minister’s office said the operations commander in the Maysan governorate – a province which borders Iran – had been removed from his post following confirmation the drone attack had originated from that region.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said that, following a call from Iraq’s prime minister, it had chosen not to respond to the attacks at this stage.