Yemeni government-aligned forces, including the Southern Giants Brigades, reported capturing Perim Island and adjacent areas around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait on October 9, 2026, following clashes that cleared Houthi positions in Dhubab and nearby high ground. This followed the Houthis’ rapid September 2026 seizure of the island, Mocha port, and other Red Sea coastal sites during an offensive that tightened their hold on the strategic chokepoint. Fighting continues with reported Houthi naval reinforcements and missile activity, while government advances remain contested amid mixed sourcing on full control. Limited external military support and the island’s value for monitoring shipping lanes sustain uncertainty, with trader consensus reflecting barriers to a sustained reversal before year-end deadlines. Scheduled or intensified operations in the coming weeks could shift momentum.