Houthis enter US 'kill box' after seizing Red Sea 'cork,' former Pentagon official warns

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have captured Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital global shipping chokepoint. A former Pentagon official described the island as the “cork in the Red Sea bottle” but warned the Houthis have placed themselves in a “kill box” vulnerable to U.S. firepower. While the Houthis have signaled a desire to avoid confrontation with the U.S., the situation highlights strategic waterways being targeted by regional powers.

• Houthi rebels captured Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key global shipping chokepoint.
• A former Pentagon official warned the Houthis have entered a U.S. military “kill box” on the island.
• The island’s capture occurred after a month-long offensive that caused significant Yemeni government losses.
• Perim Island is strategically located, cutting the chokepoint in half and sitting near a major U.S. military installation in Djibouti.
• The island has a runway and hangars, reportedly built by the UAE, but its usability by the Houthis is questioned due to their lack of sophisticated air power.
• The U.S. military possesses overwhelming firepower that could neutralize the Houthi presence on the island.
• Saudi Arabia urged President Trump to take military action, but the U.S. currently offers intelligence assistance rather than direct combat.
• President Trump stated the Houthis have indicated they do not wish to fight American forces.
• The Houthi advance is reportedly sustained by Iranian weaponry and tactical direction from the IRGC.
• The situation emphasizes the importance of strong navies to maintain freedom of navigation in critical waterways.