Yemen's Houthis took over Mayyun Island, also known as Perim, in the Bab al-Mandeb shipping lane on Friday, according to a local government official and eyewitnesses. The official said boats carrying armed Houthi fighters reached the island after government forces withdrew the previous day, completing their takeover of the Bab al-Mandab area. An eyewitness reported gunmen deploying along the shore in military vehicles. Hundreds of people have died since the Iran-backed Houthis launched an offensive last week against Riyadh-backed Yemeni government forces.
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