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News: Iran-backed Houthi rebels have seized Yemen’s Perim Island, a strategic point in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
About Perim Island
- Perim Island is a small volcanic island belonging to Yemen.
- It is also known as Mayun Island.
- Location: It is located in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, at the southern entrance of the Red Sea.
- Channel Division: The Perim Island divides the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into two channels.
- Eastern Channel: It is called Alexander’s Strait.
- Western Channel: It is called the Dact-el-Mayun Channel.
- Key Features:
- Size and Height: The rocky island covers about 13 sq. km and rises up to 65 m.
- Strategic location: Its importance increased after the Suez Canal connected the Mediterranean Sea with the Arabian Sea through the Red Sea.
- Political Status: It remained part of the British Empire from 1857 to 1967 and became part of independent Yemen in 1967.
- Facilities: It has a deep natural harbor on the southwestern side and a military airfield in the north.
- Current Crisis:
- Houthi Capture: In September 2026, Iran-backed Houthi rebels captured Perim Island.
- Trade Concerns: The Bab el-Mandeb Strait handles nearly 10% of global trade and about 5% of global oil and petroleum shipments daily.
- A disrupted route could force vessels to reroute via Africa, adding nearly 14 days to delivery schedules.
