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Tarik Saleh reports Iranian plans to seize the Bab al-Mandab Strait as Houthi rebels advance on Perim Island

Tarik Saleh, a vice president in Yemen’s internationally recognized government, reported that Iranian-backed Houthi rebels are executing a phased advance to take control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. This strategic waterway connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is a critical route for global energy shipments. The administration designated the Houthis as a terror group in 2025. Government forces have recently captured a Houthi commander whose laptop revealed military maps showing four stages of the advance. The rebels have also taken control of the port city of Mocha, located less than 50 miles from the island of Perim. Tarik Saleh warned that if the Houthis successfully seize Perim and the strait, a massive international force will be required to dislodge them. The conflict is part of a broader confrontation between the United States and Iran. While the Houthis are currently exerting pressure on maritime security, the rebels have also launched attacks on Israel in solidarity with Palestinians who were allegedly killed by Israeli forces. The administration's actions in the region have shifted the focus of the Red Sea coast to a potential front line in the wider war between Washington and Tehran.

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