Houthis seize Bab al-Mandab and Mayun Island, tighten siege on government forces
Houthi forces have taken control of Bab al-Mandab and Mayun Island after government withdrawal, expanding their presence to key Red Sea islands.
Key Takeaways
AIHouthi militias have seized control of the Bab al-Mandab area after deploying on the strategic Mayun Island in the middle of the strait on Friday, according to a local government official and eyewitnesses cited by Agence France-Presse.
The official said boats carrying armed Houthis arrived on Mayun Island following the withdrawal of government forces on Thursday. Witnesses reported that the Houthis are now deployed along the Bab al-Mandab shoreline and are using military vehicles in the area.
Mayun Island holds significant strategic value due to its location in the center of the Bab al-Mandab Strait off Yemen’s southern Red Sea coast. The local official noted that the number of fighters on the island is not large, suggesting their aim is to establish positions on the hills overlooking the strait.
Two Yemeni government sources told Reuters on Friday that the Houthis have reached the city of Dhubab, which lies directly on the Bab al-Mandab Strait opposite Perim Island.
Government sources told Reuters on Thursday that control over Dhubab and Perim is crucial for dominance over the strait.
The Bab al-Mandab area includes four strategic islands previously held by the Yemeni government: Zuqar, which the Houthis seized on Thursday; Mayun, taken on Friday; and Greater and Lesser Hanish islands. Military sources said the Houthis are besieging government forces on Greater and Lesser Hanish, where more than 2,000 personnel are stationed. The Houthis have reportedly demanded their surrender.
A senior military official confirmed that the besieged forces have appealed to Yemeni authorities for rescue, requesting food, water, and an end to the blockade, and emphasized the need for air support.
Meanwhile, the Houthis captured the Red Sea port city of Mokha on Thursday, enabling further advances toward the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key route for Saudi oil exports, especially after Iran’s near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of war with the United States on February 28.