According to Al Jazeera, the offensive lasted about 18 hours. After it, the Houthis gained control over the Red Sea coastline in the area. The capture of Perim could have serious consequences for global trade and energy resource supplies. Millions of barrels of oil pass through Bab-el-Mandeb daily. The strait is part of the route that vessels from Asia take through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to Europe. Significant volumes of oil from the Middle East are also transported through it. A local official told AFP that boats with armed Houthi fighters reached the island after government forces abandoned it the day before. A witness reported that armed formations were taking positions along the coast of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and moving on military vehicles. ### The Offensive Began with the Capture of the Port The day before, the Houthis seized the strategic port city of Mocha. Their reported goal was to gain control over Bab-el-Mandeb. The significance of the strait is particularly high now, as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains virtually halted. Bab-el-Mandeb remains one of the few alternative routes for oil transportation. In response to the capture of Mocha, Saudi Arabia carried out two airstrikes on the airport located there. According to Al Jazeera, the Houthis encountered minimal resistance as they advanced. They sequentially captured Dubab and Murad — the last coastal settlements remaining under government control. ### What Could Happen to Shipping Now Control over the strait area potentially gives the Houthis the ability to significantly increase attacks on passing vessels or attempt to restrict maritime traffic. However, they previously stated that they did not intend to immediately start attacks on vessels directly in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The rapid advance of the Houthis also indicates a significant increase in the military capabilities of the movement in recent years. They have ground units, air defense systems, missiles, and drones at their disposal. Bab-el-Mandeb is acquiring critical importance for oil supplies to Europe right now: against the backdrop of virtually halted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, any serious disruptions on the second strategic route could increase pressure on oil prices and global trade.
