Houthis seize Perim Island and Mocha port in Yemen offensive
The short version
Iran-backed Houthi rebels have captured the port city of Mocha and Perim Island, granting them control over a strategic chokepoint in the Red Sea. The offensive has displaced more than 85,000 people and triggered a wave of missile attacks against Saudi Arabian military targets.
Houthi rebels captured the port city of Mocha and Perim Island on September 11 as part of an offensive that began on September 3 [4, 11, 19].11,7,2 The Yemeni government described the loss of these positions as a "painful" defeat [11, 15, 20].7,5,1 During the capture of Mocha, Houthi forces stormed a government prison and freed 210 of their members [19].2
The UN reported that nearly 86,000 people have fled the fighting since early September [2, 16, 20].12,4,1 Displaced persons have reported fleeing under sniper fire, with thousands crossing the Bab al-Mandab Strait into Djibouti [2].12 Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated the group launched dozens of ballistic missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia's King Khalid Air Base [6, 7].10,9
The Houthis reported targeting runways, radars, hangars, and ammunition depots in southern Saudi Arabia, including Khamis Mushait [6, 7, 20].10,9,1 The Houthi group said these attacks were retaliation for more than 300 Saudi air strikes conducted inside Yemen over a five-day period [6].10 Saudi-backed Yemeni Armed Forces released video on September 12 showing strikes against Houthi positions in Mocha [1].13
Government forces also reported advancing in western Taiz after repelling a Houthi offensive [6, 10].10,8 The territorial gains have pushed global oil prices above $100 a barrel [4].11 In Somalia, the cost of a 10-kilogram cooking gas cylinder rose from $25 to $40, and fuel prices more than doubled to $1.50 per litre due to shipping disruptions [18].3
“cork in the Red Sea bottle”
Why it matters
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a narrow maritime passage that serves as a critical alternative to the Strait of Hormuz for global shipping [4, 13, 15].11,6,5
Perim Island is located in the middle of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, where the passage is approximately 18 miles wide [11].7
The conflict in Yemen began in late 2014 when Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, leading to a Saudi-led intervention in 2015 to support the internationally recognized government [19].2
This account was written from the 13 reports listed below, filed by 9 independent outlets, and checked against them line by line. It is not a copy of any one of them. Spotted an error? Tell us.
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