Yemen’s Houthi forces seize a Red Sea island in the middle of the Bab al-Mandeb shipping lane, according to a local government official and eyewitnesses cited by multiple outlets. The capture happens on Friday and is described as part of the group’s continued ground offensive in the area.
The island’s location near Bab al-Mandeb—a strait used heavily for global shipping—is presented by outlets as strategically significant. The New York Times frames the move as the militia’s advance into a choke point for trade, while Vanguard and RTE News emphasize that the takeover completes a push to control the area. All accounts attribute the operation to Iran-backed Houthi forces, though they do not provide detailed information on the island’s prior status, the number of casualties, or subsequent steps immediately following the seizure.
