The Strait of Hormuz—about 50 kilometers wide—and the Bab el-Mandeb—just 20 kilometers across —are narrow passages that would let the rebels threaten maritime traffic with artillery alone, without needing missiles or drones.

On Iran's behalf, the Houthis advanced towards Perim Island, a strategic location in Yemen, on Friday. This development significantly strengthened the militant group's efforts to seize control of a vital shipping route. The situation in the Red Sea is escalating at a particularly challenging time for global energy markets. 

The seizure of the port city of Mocha.

On Thursday, Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized the Yemeni port city of Mocha — a historic centre of the global coffee trade — as government forces backed by Saudi Arabia retreated following several days of fighting. Reports from Yemeni government sources, as cited by Reuters and AFP, suggest that the rebels have reached the Hanish Islands and seized Zuqar Island in an amphibious assault. This development has opened the way for them to advance towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime chokepoint.

 Threaten maritime traffic

This is a significant development: control of Mocha enables the Houthis to cut off the route to Taiz and strengthen their hold on Yemen's entire Red Sea coast. Defence analyst Wolfgang Pusztai explained to the Qatari broadcaster that, unlike the Strait of Hormuz—which is about 50 kilometers wide—the Bab el-Mandeb measures just 20 kilometers across, and that this narrow passage would enable the rebels to threaten maritime traffic using only artillery, without the need for missiles or drones.

Related: Tensions are sky-high again, with ships hit in and around Hormuz.

The capture of Perim Island

Several news agencies have reported the capture of Perim Island, citing multiple Yemeni government sources. This comes just one day after the Houthis seized Yemen's port city of Mokha on the Red Sea coast. CNBC could not independently verify this information. Perim Island is a small, rocky outcrop that divides the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and global markets

The ramifications for global trade.

The Yemeni civil war now appears to be merging with the broader regional crisis sparked by the conflict between the United States and Iran. Various observers cited in the international press have stated that the Houthis currently represent Tehran's most effective remaining lever for striking Western economic interests without directly exposing its own forces. However, there are concerns that the Houthis' advance toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could have significant ramifications for global trade, particularly if the militant group increases threats or attacks on Red Sea shipping.

Source: Agencies
#Houthis # port city of Mokha #Perim Island #Bab el-Mandeb Strait #CNBC#Hanish Islands # Iran #United State #Global Trade #Red Sea # Wolfgang Puszta