Houthis Seize Yemen's Mayun Island in Strategic Red Sea Move
Iran-backed Houthis have taken control of Mayun Island, a key chokepoint near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, raising questions about their ability to hold it.
Iran-backed Houthi forces seized Mayun Island, a strategically significant landmass positioned near the Bab el-Mandeb strait — one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints — in a move that has intensified concerns about regional security and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea corridor.
The capture of Mayun places Houthi fighters in a commanding geographic position overlooking shipping lanes that connect the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Control of territory near the Bab el-Mandeb strait gives any armed force significant leverage over global commercial traffic, including oil tankers and container vessels transiting between Asia, Europe, and East Africa.
Read more Vietnamese, Indian Prime Ministers Hold Bilateral Talks →
Whether the Houthis can consolidate and defend their newly seized position remains a central question for military analysts and regional governments alike. Holding an exposed island requires logistical capacity, air defense infrastructure, and supply lines that irregular forces typically struggle to sustain under sustained military pressure — particularly given the group's ongoing conflict with a coalition of opposing forces.
The seizure marks an escalation in Houthi efforts to project power beyond Yemen's mainland and expand their footprint across a theater they have increasingly weaponized through drone strikes, missile launches, and naval disruptions targeting international shipping since late 2023. The move is likely to draw sharp responses from regional powers and Western navies already operating in the area.
Continue reading at Al Jazeera for full reporting and expert analysis on the Houthi seizure of Mayun Island.
