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| Hanish Island Photo: Debka files |
SAUDI
AND EGYPTIAN MARINES CAPTURE IRAN-HELD ISLAND AT RED SEA CHOKE - POINT
Via DEBKAfile’s
In a pivotal breakthrough in the YEMEN
civil war, the naval forces of SAUDI ARABIA, EGYPT and the UAR took by storm
from YEMEN’S IRAN-backed HOUTHI rebels the Greater HANISH ISLAND, which is part
of the strategic archipelago commanding the STRAIT OF BAB AL MANDEB. This is
reported exclusively by DEBKAfile’s MIDDLE EAST sources.
This highly strategic strait
links the INDIAN OCEAN with the GULF OF ADEN and the RED SEA – i.e. AFRICA and
ASIA – and is the world’s fourth busiest chokepoint for international oil
traffic.
Captured by YEMENI rebels last
May, the island was converted by IRANIAN officers into an armed base and one of
TEHRAN’S largest depots for the supply of arms to its forces and proxies in the
region. A fleet of small boats and fishing vessels kept the YEMENI HOUTHIS amply
armed for fending off the SAUDI-led ARAB coalition fighting to restore the
exiled YEMENI government.
Background Information: YEMEN
BAB AL-MANDAB - STRATEGIC LINK
YEMEN
CONFLICT
STRATEGIC
HOTSPOT – NOT EASY TO BE CONQUERED IT SEEMS
The HANISH island base also
provided IRAN with a commanding position for spreading its influence in ETHIOPIA
and ERITREA on the eastern AFRICAN seaboard.
Taking the island was a major
breakthrough for the coalition, after long months of combat that was crowned by
their capture of the southern YEMENI seaport of ADEN in the past three months.
With the occupation of Greater HANISH, SAUDI-led forces are now in position not
just to cut off IRAN’S weapons supplies to the YEMENI rebels, but also to break
its grip on the vital strait that connects the PERSIAN GULF to the MEDITERRANEAN
via the SUEZ CANAL.
IRAN maintained on GREATER HANISH
ISLAND advanced radar and electronic tracking stations for keeping an eye on
military movements on the southern SAUDI border with northern YEMEN. They could
also shadow oil tanker and other shipping passing through the RED SEA, and
stake out ISRAEL’S south- and east-bound sea traffic as it passed through the GULF
OF AQABA.
Background Information:
IRAN, SAUDI ARABIA IN TENSE
BUILDUP OPPOSITE YEMEN’S GULF OF ADEN SHORE
YEMEN AND SAUDI ARABIA
DEBKAfile’s military and
intelligence sources reveal that SAUDI ARABIA and EGYPT finally decided that
the seizure of the strategic island could not be delayed when last month, IRAN
won a permit to establish an air and sea base in DJIBOUTI, the HORN OF AFRICA nation
opposite the GULF OF ADEN’S entrance to the RED SEA.
STRATEGY GAME
DJIBOUTI derives much of its
revenue from renting out tracts of land to foreign nations seeking bases of
operation in the HORN OF AFRICA and the RED SEA. AMERICAN and FRENCH bases are
situated no more than 214 km from GREATER HANISH ISLAND.
RIYADH, CAIRO and the UAE agreed
that they could not afford to let IRANIAN air and naval forces gain control of
the BAB EL-MANDEB STRAIT from its twin footholds on the island and in DJIBOUTI.
They were not the only interested
parties. It may be taken for granted that their operation to take over GREATER
HANISH was quietly assisted by WESTERN and MIDDLE EAST interests that had been
watching IRAN’S takeover of these vital ocean pathways with grave concern.
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