Yemeni Houthis captured strategic islands in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. One of the largest trade routes effectively came under the control of militants
According to the Yemeni government, rebels now control the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, through which more than a tenth of the world's cargo traffic passes. The USA refused direct military intervention, despite repeated requests from allies.
Location of Perim Island in the strait. It is only 20 km from the African coast
As reported by the German publication DW, the pro-Iranian Houthi movement established control over the strategic islands of Perim, Zuqar, and Hanish. This effectively means the capture of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the most important maritime trade routes between the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Yemeni government forces hastily abandoned these territories, also ceding the coastal port city of Mocha to the militants.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait remains the southern gateway between Asia and Europe. Its value has increased many times over after the war between the US, Israel, and Iran effectively halted movement through the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia, deprived of its main eastern export window, reoriented oil supplies to the west, to the Red Sea. Now the Houthis are closing this door too. Yahya Saree, a spokesman for the rebels' military wing, openly stated that shipping is safe for everyone except Saudi ships.
The economic blow came from various sides. The BILD publication notes that rebel attacks led to the suspension of operations of the crucial Saudi "East-West" oil pipeline, which served as the last alternative to the blocked Strait of Hormuz. World markets reacted instantly, and the price per barrel of Brent crude exceeded one hundred and ten dollars.
Recently, the American company Anthropic officially reported blocking users from northern Yemen who were attempting to use artificial intelligence with ordinary smartphones to design hypersonic and ballistic missiles.
America's Inaction
The creation of a new front is directly backed by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Tehran generously provides its Yemeni proxy allies with finances, weapons, and officer personnel. Iran's calculation is obvious — to maximally stretch the opponents' resources and force them to fight on several fronts simultaneously. However, the main adversary is not yet biting this bait.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman found himself in a catastrophic time crunch. Back in July, Riyadh self-confidently assured Washington of its ability to deal with the Houthis independently when it carried out preventive strikes on Sanaa airport. Today, the rhetoric has shifted to the diametrically opposite. The Prince called Donald Trump twice in one day, requesting direct American strikes on the positions of the militants approaching the strait.
The occupant of the White House responded with a firm refusal. The American administration seeks at all costs to avoid direct involvement in armed conflict with the Houthis, limiting itself to providing intelligence.
Commander of US Central Command Brad Cooper urgently arrived in Saudi Arabia, where about two hundred American military personnel are currently stationed, but their mission is purely advisory and does not involve participation in combat operations.