A small, barren island in the Bab al-Mandab Strait is moving to the center of a clash far weightier than its territory would suggest. If the Houthis manage to expand their control toward Perim, the blow would not only be military for Yemen, but also economic for one of the most sensitive corridors in global trade.
Why Perim is much more than an island
Perim, also known as Mayyun, lies in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategic passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Its position makes this point a critical hub for the movement of commercial ships between Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Control over this area does not have only symbolic value. It directly affects the security of one of the world’s most important sea routes, at a time when global supply chains and the energy market are already under pressure.
The offensive toward Mokha and the risk to the maritime corridor
According to regional sources cited by CNN, Houthi forces have intensified their offensive and are targeting the port city of Mokha, about 80 kilometers north of Perim. If this move is followed by control over the island, the rebels would gain a favorable position from which to threaten ships passing at the entrance to the Red Sea.
The port of Mokha has become one of the hottest flashpoints in the confrontation. According to the port’s director, Abdel Malek Al-Sharaabi, a recent missile attack left 16 victims and forced the port to close.
Oil, transport and fears of a chain reaction
The importance of Bab al-Mandab has grown even further because of tensions with Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia has shifted part of its oil exports toward the Red Sea, trying to avoid dependence on traditional routes.
According to Kpler data, the volume of oil passing through this corridor has halved compared with a few years ago. About three years ago, this route accounted for roughly 10% of global oil trade transported by sea, showing how sensitive any military development in the area remains.
The Yemeni conflict is extending beyond internal borders
The vice president of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, Tarik Saleh, has warned that the capture of Perim by the Houthis would significantly change the balance on the ground. According to his account, if the rebels gain direct control over Bab al-Mandab, broad international intervention would be needed to remove them.
Yemen’s civil war began in 2014, when the Houthis took control of Sanaa and forced the government to flee. Since then, the group has strengthened its military capabilities with support from Iran, while after the war in Gaza in 2023 it also expanded attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, drawing the Yemeni crisis into a broader regional confrontation.
This is precisely where the real alarm lies: a prolonged local conflict is affecting a global artery of energy and trade.
If the escalation continues in Bab al-Mandab, the consequences could be felt far beyond Yemen’s shores, from shipping costs to international oil prices.