Houthis claim major advance in Yemen and tighten grip on Red Sea shipping lane

Yemen's Houthis have claimed a major advance on the western Red Sea coast, consolidating their grip on the key international shipping route.

The Iran-backed group seized Perim Island at the mouth of the waterway in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a source from Yemen's internationally-recognised government told the BBC.

It comes a day after the Houthis captured the strategic port city of Mokha from Saudi-backed pro-government forces, according to military sources. A Yemeni military official told the AFP news agency the Houthis now control the entire coastline.

The Houthis earlier said they posed no threat to international shipping but reiterated their threat to target vessels from Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country's de facto ruler, has personally pressed US President Donald Trump to take military action against the Houthis during their rapid advance, two sources familiar with the matter told CBS News - the BBC's media partner in North America.

Trump has so far declined to involve the US military directly, offering instead to assist with intelligence and targeting support, the sources said.

A senior Trump administration official later told the BBC: "We are in continuous dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen government regarding regional stability."

On Friday, Yemeni pro-government forces withdrew from Perim (also known as Mayyun).