Yemen’s Iran‑aligned Houthi rebels have seized Mayun (also called Perim), a small volcanic island at the southern mouth of the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait, according to multiple reports citing Associated Press coverage. The capture marks the biggest Houthi territorial gain in years and introduces a new flashpoint in the wider war involving Iran and the United States.
- Houthis captured Mayun/Perim island at the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait, per AP reporting.
- The move threatens Red Sea shipping and follows Houthi advances including the capture of Mokha.
- Saudi Arabia closed a major East‑West pipeline as a precaution after a drone attack, according to reports.
- Market and shipping disruption fears have pushed crude prices above 0 per barrel in the cited reporting.
- Several details remain unresolved: long‑term control of the island, specific military responses and strategic coordination among anti‑Houthi forces.
What happened
The takeover of Mayun/Perim was confirmed separately to the Associated Press by a senior official from Yemen’s internationally recognised government and by a Houthi official; both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief journalists. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage connected to the island seizure.
Why the island matters
Perim sits inside the 28‑kilometre‑wide (17‑mile) Bab al‑Mandeb Strait, a choke point linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and a critical corridor for global crude shipments. Since fighting linked to the Iran war disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has shifted more exports through the Red Sea, increasing the strategic value of Perim.
Immediate regional effects
- Saudi precautions: Saudi authorities reported shutting down a major East‑West pipeline as a precaution after a drone attack the day before, according to reporting that cites the Saudi energy ministry’s statement. The pipeline is a key conduit enabling Saudi crude to reach the Red Sea ports established as an alternative route to Hormuz.
- Shipping and markets: Shipping through the Bab al‑Mandeb had previously fallen about 60% from levels before renewed Houthi attacks began in late 2023; maritime traffic rose again earlier this year but has been curtailed by fresh threats, industry intelligence said. Crude prices rose above $100 a barrel in the week of the seizure, reflecting market nervousness.
- Territorial context: The Houthi advance is part of a wider offensive that began in July and has included the capture of the Red Sea port city of Mokha (Mocha). Saudi strikes reportedly hit Mokha’s airport after that seizure, and the Houthi armed forces issued a statement pledging “escalation for escalation” while claiming that navigation is safe for all companies except Saudi vessels.
How this ties into the wider Iran war
Analysts and officials have described the Houthis as a significant Iranian proxy in the region. Commentators in the supplied reporting say the Houthi gains could fit into an Iranian strategy to tighten pressure on global energy supplies and gain leverage in wider diplomatic talks. Iran’s government publicly called for a return to negotiations with Saudi Arabia and urged an end to the Saudi blockade of Houthi‑held areas in statements noted in the reporting.
Responses and disputed points
Saudi officials did not immediately respond to Associated Press requests for comment cited in the coverage. A senior official from Yemen’s internationally recognised government told AP they were surprised the Saudi air force did not act to prevent the capture of Mokha and suggested Washington authorization may have been a factor; that assessment was reported on condition of anonymity.
There are differing public statements: the Houthi armed forces boasted of coastal gains but did not name the island in their statement, while local Houthi and government sources confirmed the Mayun/Perim capture to AP. Reporting also notes that the Houthi broadcaster said Saudi strikes hit Mokha airport but that there were no reported casualties.
Timeline (from supplied reporting)
- Late 2023: Houthis begin attacks on some ships in the Red Sea and declare a blockade, reducing traffic through the Bab al‑Mandeb.
- July 2026: Houthis launch a renewed offensive against government positions, rupturing an informal truce with Saudi Arabia.
- Early September 2026: Houthis seized Mokha (Mocha) on Yemen’s Red Sea coast; Saudi Arabia struck the city’s airport, per Houthi broadcaster claims cited in reporting.
- Sept. 11, 2026: Multiple reports based on Associated Press coverage say Houthis captured Mayun/Perim island; Saudi Arabia reportedly shut down an East‑West pipeline after a drone attack the previous day.
Practical implications for the Middle East and the UAE
For Gulf economies and states such as the UAE, the seizure increases the risk to Red Sea routes that have been used to avoid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Supply chains, insurance costs for shipping, and downstream fuel prices may be affected if attacks and territorial control constrain safe passage through Bab al‑Mandeb or force longer transit via the Suez Canal or alternative pipelines.
What remains unclear
- Whether the Houthis will sustain permanent control of Mayun/Perim and the island’s garrison strength in coming days;
- How Saudi Arabia, the United States and regional navies will respond militarily or diplomatically beyond the pipeline shutdown and localized strikes already reported;
- The extent to which Iran will formalise Houthi territorial gains in any wider negotiation framework — Iranian officials called for resumed talks but the implications for on‑the‑ground strategy are not specified in the reporting.
Why this matters to readers
The capture of Perim by Houthi forces brings the Yemen conflict closer to key international shipping lines and raises the prospect of further disruptions to oil and trade flows at a time of already heightened market sensitivity. For Gulf states and regional trading hubs like the UAE, the development adds urgency to contingency planning for energy exports, maritime security and diplomatic channels with Riyadh, Tehran and Washington.
“The capture of Mayun, a tiny, barren volcanic island inside the strait also known as Perim, was confirmed by a senior military official with Yemen’s internationally recognized government and by a Houthi official.”
Attributions: This article is based exclusively on reporting attributed to the Associated Press and republished by regional and international outlets in the supplied evidence. Statements about pipeline shutdowns, strikes, shipping volumes and price movements are reported in those sources and are attributed here to the cited coverage.