Houthis capture Mayun Island, bolstering control of Bab al-Mandeb Strait

Yemen’s Houthi movement announced on Monday that it had taken control of Mayun Island, a small landmass located at the southern entrance of the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait. The island, which sits near the crucial maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, was previously under the oversight of forces aligned with the Saudi‑UAE coalition. The Houthis said the seizure was part of an ongoing campaign to secure the strait, a route that handles roughly one‑third of global oil shipments and a significant share of container traffic.

The capture of Mayun Island consolidates the Houthis’ presence on both sides of the Bab al‑Mandeb, raising concerns among shipping companies and regional governments about the safety of commercial vessels transiting the waterway. International observers have called for unhindered navigation, while the coalition has yet to issue a formal response. Analysts note that the development could prompt heightened naval patrols and diplomatic engagement aimed at preserving the strait’s openness, a critical artery for global trade.