Houthis Reportedly Seize Strategic Mayun Island in Bab al-Mandeb Strait
The Iran-backed group's takeover of the island strengthens its position along a key global shipping route, though analysts questioned whether it can maintain control long-term, according to Al Jazeera.
The Iran-backed Houthi movement has taken control of Mayun Island, a strategically located landmass in the Bab al-Mandeb strait, according to a report by Al Jazeera.
The island, also known as Perim Island, sits in one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints, through which a significant share of global shipping traffic passes between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Al Jazeera reported that the takeover solidifies the Houthis' position in the strait, an area that has seen heightened military and commercial activity in recent years amid the group's campaign against vessels it has linked to Israel and its allies.
However, the report noted that holding the island over the long term could prove difficult for the group, without detailing the specific military, logistical or political challenges it may face in doing so.
The Houthis, who control large parts of northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa, have for years targeted shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb corridor, disrupting global trade routes and prompting international naval responses.
Further details on the circumstances of the island's seizure, including the timing and any resistance encountered, were not immediately available in the source report. Al Jazeera has been contacted for additional information.
Sources
- Iran-backed Houthis seize strategic Mayun Island: Can they hold it? — Al Jazeera — All
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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