Houthis claim major advance in Yemen and tighten grip on Red Sea shipping lane

On Friday, Yemeni pro-government forces withdrew from Perim (also known as Mayyun). Witnesses and news agencies reported that Houthi forces moved on to the island.The Houthis later issued a statement, saying that their military operation to expel Saudi-backed forces had been a "success" and that "maritime navigation is safe for all companies except for Saudi vessels".Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the "large-scale" military operation was launched on 3 September due to Saudi Arabia's "blatant aggression" against "our dear people".Sarea also said the Houthis had expelled "Saudi enemy" forces from six districts in the Taiz and Hodeidah regions, claiming that hundreds of troops had been killed, wounded or captured. The Houthi statement, however, did not mention Perim Island.Saudi Arabia has not publicly commented on the latest developments.Perim 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.Saudi Arabia has been relying on the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait for shipping oil to customers i...