West Asia conflict LIVE: Houthis take over key Red Sea island to control Bab al-Mandeb strait

Home News World Hundreds of people have died since the Iran-backed Houthis launched an offensive around Bab al-Mandab, a vital artery for Saudi oil exports Updated - September 11, 2026 03:10 pm IST Representational image of a commercial ship at the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Yemen | Photo Credit: AP Yemen’s Houthis took over on Friday (September 11, 2026) a Red Sea island that is located in the middle of the Bab al-Mandeb shipping lane, completing their push to control the area, a local government official and eyewitnesses told AFP.“Boats carrying armed Houthi fighters reached Mayyun Island after government forces withdrew from it yesterday,” the official said, referring to an island also known as Perim that divides the strait into lanes.ALSO READ | Hormuz tensions flare as Iran, U.S. intensify strikesFollowing this, Yemeni government forces ‌withdrew from the island of ⁠Perim in the Bab ‌el-Mandeb Strait. Follow live updates here:September 11, 2026 15:10 Trump declines Saudi crown prince's call for U.S. strikes on HouthisSaudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called U.S. President Donald Trump twice on Thursday (September 10, 2026) and urged ‌him to launch strikes against the Houthis, Axios reported, citing two U.S. ⁠officials.Mr. Trump rejected the request, and U.S. officials said the administration does not intend to take direct ‌military action against the Houthis at this time, the report said.Read more:Trump declines Saudi crown prince's call for U.S. strikes on Houthis: reportsTrump rejects Saudi crown prince's request for US strikes on Houthis, aiming to avoid direct military action in Yemen.September 11, 2026 15:02 Houthis reach Yemen's Dhubab on Bab el-Mandeb Strait The Iran-backed Houthis ‌reached the Yemeni town ⁠of Dhubab which sits ‌directly on ‌the ‌Bab ⁠el-Mandeb Strait across ⁠from the island of Perim, ‌two Yemeni government sources told Reuters ‌on Friday.Control of Dhubab and ⁠Perim is key ‌to gaining hold of the strait, government ‌sources told Reuters.September 11, 2026 14:50 Saudi Arabia launches two airstrikes on Mocha airportSaudi Arabia launched two strikes on Friday targeting the airport of the strategic city of Mocha, now under Houthi control, according to the group’s Al-Masirah TV channel.Yemen’s Tehran-backed Houthis seized control of the Red Sea port city on Thursday after launching a large-scale offensive last week against Riyadh-backed Yemeni government forces.-AFPSeptember 11, 2026 14:50 Houthis reach Yemen's strategic Perim IslandIran-aligned Houthi ‌militants reached Yemen’s strategic Perim ⁠Island at the ‌mouth of ‌the ‌Bab el-Mandeb ⁠Strait ⁠early on Friday after government ‌forces withdrew, four Yemeni government ‌sources told Reuters.The move marked ⁠the group’s ‌most significant advance yet towards control ‌of the key shipping waterway.-ReutersSeptember 11, 2026 14:49 Houthis seize key Red Sea island, complete takeover of Bab al-Mandab areaYemen’s Houthis took over a key island in the Red Sea on Friday, completing their push to seize control of the Bab al-Mandab strait area, a local government official and eyewitnesses told AFP.“Boats carrying armed Houthi fighters reached Mayyun Island after government forces withdrew from it yesterday,” the official said, referring to an island also known as Perim that divides the strait into two shipping lanes.An eyewitness said gunmen were “deploying along the Bab al-Mandab shore and are driving around in military vehicles”.-AFP Published - September 11, 2026 02:46 pm IST