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Houthis take strategic Red Sea island, witnesses say
Houthis take strategic Red Sea island, witnesses say
The Houthis escalated fighting last week and have now reportedly taken over a strategic island in the Red Sea
Yemen's Houthi rebels have reached Perim Island, an important maritime chokepoint at the mouth of the Red Sea, witnesses have reported.
The island sits on the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which acts as a gateway to a key shipping route linking Asia and Europe.
It comes a day after the Houthis seized the strategic port city of Mokha from Saudi-backed pro-government forces, according to military sources.
Earlier this week, the Houthis said they posed no threat to international shipping but reiterated their threat to target vessels from Saudi Arabia.
On Friday, Yemeni pro-government forces withdrew from Perim (also known as Mayyun).
Witnesses reported that Houthi forces moved onto the island, but there has been no immediate confirmation from the Houthis.
The island sits at the narrowest point of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which has become increasingly important following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz - another crucial waterway - in the conflict between the US and Iran.
A local government official and eyewitness told AFP: "The Houthis have completed their takeover of the Bab al-Mandab area and Mayyun Island."
Despite concerns over how global shipping could be impacted after the capture of Mokha, a Houthi spokesperson said navigation was safe for all shipping companies except for Saudi vessels.
Saudi Arabia has been relying on the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait for shipping oil to customers in Asia.
The escalation of the conflict between the Houthis, Yemen's government and Saudi Arabia has contributed to a surge in oil prices.
Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed and thousands displaced since the Houthis launched an offensive in the south-west a week ago.
A Saudi-led coalition has also carried out air strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in western Yemen in support of the pro-government forces, and the Houthis have launched missiles and drones at cities and oil facilities in southern Saudi Arabia.
Since fighting escalated, at least 46,000 people have been displaced in Yemen, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
On Friday, the IOM said the number was "alarmingly rising by the hour".
Amy Pope, IOM director general, said: "Families are being forced to flee for the second or third time in this conflict, with almost nothing left."
The Houthis ousted the internationally recognised government in 2015, triggering Saudi military intervention in the civil war. A truce that had largely held for more than four years effectively collapsed in July.