The Houthis Bab el-Mandeb takeover reached its final stage this week after Iran-backed fighters captured Mayyun Island, the rocky outpost that splits the strait’s narrowest point into two shipping lanes.
An 18-hour blitz along the coast
Houthi fighters reached the island, also known as Perim, on Friday after Yemeni government forces withdrew, a local official and eyewitnesses said. The move capped an 18-hour blitz in which the group also seized the town of Dhubab and the coastal village of Murad, bringing all of Yemen’s Red Sea coast under Houthi control.
A third of world shipping now at risk
The takeover follows earlier gains this month, when Houthi forces captured the strategic port of Mokha and the Hanish Islands and Zuqar Island further south in the Red Sea. Combined with Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, roughly a third of the world’s seaborne trade now passes through waterways under hostile control, raising fresh concerns for global shipping and oil prices.
Source: Al Jazeera
Leon Ramoviq
Primary Author · Editorial Reviewer · Researcher Leon Ramoviq is a digital media researcher, content creator, and primary author at Smashology Media. His work focuses on researching, verifying, and developing stories across entertainment, culture, sports, internet trends, curiosity-driven topics, and viral news. Before publishing, Leon reviews sources, cross-checks key claims, and works to ensure that articles are clear, accurately represented, and based on reliable information rather than unverified social-media speculation. With experience in digital media, graphic design, social media content, and online audience engagement, he brings both an editorial and visual perspective to the stories published on Smashology. Leon is particularly interested in how stories spread online, why certain topics capture public attention, and how complex or trending information can be presented in a simple and engaging format. Role at Smashology As a primary author and researcher, Leon is involved in: • Researching stories and identifying original or reliable sources • Writing and developing articles for Smashology • Reviewing facts, names, dates, quotations, and contextual information • Checking stories for misleading or unsupported claims • Reviewing articles before publication • Following developments and updating stories when meaningful new information becomes available • Maintaining editorial consistency across Smashology content Editorial Approach Leon believes engaging content should not come at the expense of accuracy. His approach is to combine strong storytelling with responsible sourcing, clear attribution, and additional verification when a story originates from social media or rapidly developing online discussions.
