Houthi forces capture Mokha, Dhubab and Perim, escalating Yemen conflict

The Iran‑backed Houthi movement has seized control of the Yemeni coastal towns of Mokha, Dhubab and the strategic island of Perim, which lies at the entrance to the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait. The captures mark the group’s most significant territorial gains in recent weeks and give it direct oversight of a vital maritime chokepoint through which a substantial portion of global oil shipments pass. Yemeni government forces, already stretched by internal conflict, have been unable to mount an effective defense, while Saudi Arabia, a key regional ally of the internationally recognized government, has condemned the advances as a destabilizing escalation.

Analysts say the Houthi expansion threatens to deepen Yemen’s involvement in the broader Middle‑East war, potentially prompting a stronger Saudi‑led response and raising concerns among international shipping firms about the safety of navigation through the strait. The United Nations has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged all parties to respect the freedom of navigation, emphasizing that further disruption could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and impact global energy markets. The situation remains fluid as diplomatic efforts intensify to prevent a wider regional conflagration.