Iran-backed Houthi rebels have captured a critical island controlling access to the Red Sea, according to Yemeni media reports, in what appears to be a coordinated offensive to consolidate their grip on one of the world's most strategic waterways.
Following their earlier seizure of the vital port city of al-Mokha, the Houthis launched an amphibious assault and successfully took control of Jabal Zuqar Island, which sits in the inner section of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The island commands a dominant position over the entrance to the Red Sea.
International reports indicate the Houthi offensive continues despite heavy losses inflicted by Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia. The rebels appear to have made a strategic decision to absorb casualties on the northern front lines while redirecting their forces toward securing control of Red Sea maritime routes.
The twin victories at al-Mokha and Jabal Zuqar mark a significant shift in the rebels' strategic posture, with the Houthis now holding key positions that could allow them to threaten shipping through one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints.
