Houthi rebels hold chokehold on tankers route

Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels captured a strategic island

in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the entrance of the Red Sea,

in a swift advance that further threatens Saudi Arabia's oil exports

through one of the world's key commercial lanes.

The Strait of Bab el-Mandeb is a key alternative to the Iran-choked

Strait of Hormuz, and the latest development is likely going to give

Tehran more leverage in any negotiations to end the Middle East war.

According to the Associated Press' Fay Abuelgasim, "the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have made their biggest territorial gains

since the 2022 truce ended a years-long civil war in Yemen.

They are now inching closer to controlling the entire Bab el-Mandeb strait,

a key waterway at the entrance of the Red Sea.

The Houthis now control the strategic port city of Mokha on the western coast

and they also now control the island of Mayun, also known as Perim,

a tiny, barren volcanic island right at the entrance of the strait.

With the Strait of Hormuz nearly closed because of the US-Iran war,

the Houthis' advances on Bab el-Mandeb are bound to cause more

disruption to shipping and oil prices, which have already

soared to over 100 dollars a barrel."

The Houthi's military arm listed advances made by the group

since launching operations last week in districts along Yemen's

western coast.

They claimed to have killed, wounded and detained hundreds of

Yemeni government troops backed by Saudi Arabia.

The spokesman said "maritime

navigation is safe for all companies except for Saudi vessels."

The Houthi-controlled broadcaster Al-Masirah aired footage

it said showed areas seized by the rebels, including various areas

near the town of Mokha.

The station also showed large crowds celebrating in different parts of

Yemen, including Sanaa, the capital of the country, which is

in the hands of the Houthis.

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry is calling for an end to

Saudi's blockade of Houthi-held areas in a show of support

for its ally in Yemen.

It said the latest developments in Yemen has nothing to do with

Iran, and that Yemeni's are rising up for their rights.

The United Nations has expressed its concerns for the seizure of

its compound that had housed UN staff in Mokha.

Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General

Farhan Haq said all staff members had left the compound,

but highlighted the seizure would make humanitarian work

for the fleeing civilians even more difficult than normal.