Yemen's Houthis deploy forces to strategic Hanish Islands in Red Sea

Yemen's Houthi group has deployed forces to the strategic Hanish Islands in the Red Sea following the withdrawal of government naval troops, a Yemeni government official told Xinhua Thursday.



"The naval forces withdrew (on Thursday afternoon), and the Houthis moved in," the official said on condition of anonymity, adding that Houthi forces had begun establishing positions on the islands.



The deployment significantly expands the Houthis' military presence in the southern Red Sea, bringing their forces closer to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.



Located north of the Bab al-Mandab Strait and near major international shipping lanes, the Hanish archipelago holds strategic value for monitoring and securing maritime traffic.