Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized Perim Island on September 11 after a month of fighting. The offensive resulted in more than 1,500 soldier deaths and gives the rebels a foothold in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
From the British Empire to the IRGC: The Battle for Perim
The capture of Perim Island, also known as Mayun, is not merely a local skirmish but a grab for a historic maritime vantage point. According to former Pentagon official Morgan Murphy, the island has been a target for global powers for centuries, having been previously contested by French forces and held by the British Empire for over a hundred years. By seizing this volcanic rock, the Houthis are attempting to replicate the naval dominance of past empires to control the gateway to the Red Sea.
This shift in control is not a solitary Houthi effort.. Yemeni government sources and regional intelligence, as reported by Reuters, indicate that the Houthi advance was sustained by tactical direction and weaponry provided by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran. this suggests that the seizure of Perim is part of a broader Iranian strategy to project power over global shipping chokepoints, mirroring threats already seen near the Strait of Hormuz.
The 18-mile chokepoint and the 'kill box' risk
While the Houthis now hold a strategic position, the geography of Perim Island may actually make the rebel forces more vulnerable. Morgan Murphy warned that because the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is only 18 miles wide at this point, the island effectively cuts the chokepoint in half. However, Murphy described the island as a "kill box," noting that it is a desolate volcanic rock with virtually no vegetation and no natural water sources.
The lack of cover and resources on Perim means that Houthi troops are massed on an exposed surface. According to Murphy, this makes the forces on the island highly susceptible to concentrated fire from a sophisticated navy. He argued that while the Houthis have "caught a critical cork in the Red Sea bottle," they lack the 21st-century warfare capabilities required to defend such an exposed position against the United States Navy.
The 1.85-kilometer runway and the UAE's legacy
Satellite imagery revveals that Perim Island is not entirely barren,featuring a 1.85-kilometer (6,070-foot) runway and three military hangars. Regional intelligence reports attribute the construction of this infrastructure to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The presence of an airstrip theoretically allows for the projection of air power, but the utility of this asset for the Houthi rebels remains questionable.
Morgan Murphy pointed out that the Houthis do not possess the sophisticated air power necessary to utilize a runway of this scale effectively. while the UAE built the facility to secure the strait, the Houthis now inherit a piece of infrastructure they may not be able to maintain or operate. This creates a paradox where the rebels hold a high-value military asset that they cannot fully leverage, yet which serves as a clear target for U.S. or allied strikes.
Trump's claims of Houthi outreach vs. Saudi demands
The diplomatic response to the seizure of Perim is currently fragmented between Washington and Riyadh. Speaking in Dublin on September 12, President Trump claimed that the Houthis had contacted his administration to signal a desire to avoid direct confrontation with American forces. This contradicts the urgency coming from Saudi Arabia, which has urged the Trump administration to initiate military action to halt the Houthi advance.
Several critical details remain unverified. It is currently unknown what the actual operational condition of the 1.85-kilometer runway is, or how the Houthis intend to supply their troops on an island with no water. Furthermore, while President Trump asserts the Houthis "do not want to fight," the source of this communication remains vague, and it is unclear if this outreach is a genuine diplomatic overture or a tactical delay to allow the rebels to fortify the island.
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