Houthi forces seize Red Sea island in key shipping lane

Yemen's Houthis took over a Red Sea island in the middle of the Bab al-Mandeb shipping lane, completing their push to control the area, a local government official and eyewitnesses said.

"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.

"The Houthis have completed their takeover of the Bab al-Mandab area and Mayyun Island, which is located in the middle of the strait," he added, speaking on condition of anonymity.

An eyewitness said gunmen were "deploying along the Bab al-Mandab shore and are driving around in military vehicles".

Hundreds of people have died since the Iran-backed Houthis launched an offensive against Riyadh-backed Yemeni government forces around Bab al-Mandab last week.

The waterway has gained importance as a transit route since the start of the wider Middle East war, which saw Iran blockade the Strait of Hormuz.

The local government official said the number of fighters on Mayyun is "not large", adding that they would probably opt to deploy on hills overlooking Bab al-Mandab.

The waterway, a vital artery for Saudi oil exports, includes four strategic islands: Zuqar, seized by the Houthis yesterday, Mayyun, and the two Hanish islands.

Government military sources said that the Houthis have besieged government troops on the Hanish islands.

They said they were unsure about the status of their troops, which number more than 2,000, but believe the Houthis have ordered them to surrender.

A senior military official said that the besieged forces have appealed to authorities for "rescue, food and water, and the lifting of the siege, which would require air support".

Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called US President Donald Trump twice yesterday and urged him to launch strikes against the Houthis, Axios reported, citing two US officials.

Mr Trump rejected the request, and US officials said the administration does not intend to take direct military action against the Houthis at this time, the report said.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The White House and Saudi embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside regular business hours.

According to Axios, the US is increasingly concerned about the rapidly escalating conflict in Yemen and is stepping up support for Saudi Arabia while seeking to avoid direct military involvement.

Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of the US Central Command, travelled to Saudi Arabia yesterday for urgent coordination talks, according to the report.

US military and civilian officials have also told their Saudi counterparts in recent weeks that Mr Trump's directive is to keep American forces focused on Iran and safeguarding the Strait of Hormuz, while avoiding the opening of another military front, Axios added.

Reuters reported in July that Saudi Arabia is seeking to build an international coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks, as tensions in and around Yemen continue to escalate.

The escalation dates back to early July, when the Houthis said their forces confronted Saudi "warplanes" that were attempting to prevent an Iranian civilian aircraft from landing at Sanaa International Airport.