Iran-backed Houthi rebels have captured Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic chokepoint for global shipping. The move has led a former Pentagon official to warn that the militants have placed themselves in a "kill box," an area highly vulnerable to U.S. firepower.
Morgan Murphy, a former Pentagon press secretary and retired Navy captain, stated that the Houthi seizure of Perim Island on September 11 exposed them to overwhelming U.S. force. He described the island, which lies in the middle of the 18-mile-wide strait, as the "like the cork in the Red Sea bottle." Murphy emphasized that while the island offers a strategic vantage point, its relatively small size and lack of resources make it an easy target for concentrated military action.
"They've put themselves into a kill box," Murphy told Fox News Digital. "They're nowhere near the capability of the United States and if the president so chooses, he can wipe them off the face of that rock pretty easily."
Perim Island, also known as Mayun, is a desolate volcanic island located approximately 20 miles from the Horn of Africa. Its proximity to Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, a significant U.S. military installation, further enhances its strategic importance and vulnerability. Satellite imagery indicates the presence of a 6,000-foot runway and three military hangars on the island, with regional intelligence attributing their construction to the United Arab Emirates.
Despite the Houthi's efforts to fortify the island, Murphy noted that such defenses would be insufficient against the advanced capabilities of the U.S. Navy. "We could wipe that rock into glass, just blast it into a smooth glass surface," he said, illustrating the potential U.S. response.
The developments occur amidst diplomatic efforts between Washington, Riyadh, and the Houthis. Reports indicate that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged President Donald Trump to authorize U.S. military strikes against Houthi positions. However, U.S. officials have stated that the administration currently has no immediate plans for direct combat involvement but will continue to provide intelligence assistance. President Trump also suggested that the Houthis have signaled a desire to avoid direct confrontation with American forces.
Murphy suggested that Tehran's strategy, allegedly supported by Iranian weaponry and tactical direction from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, aims to disrupt global fuel prices by threatening critical shipping lanes. He drew historical parallels to naval power struggles, emphasizing the strategic mismatch between the Houthis' tactics and modern warfare capabilities.
"The Houthis are using a 19th-century playbook. They are not using 21st-century warfare," Murphy stated. He added that the situation underscores the importance of a strong navy for global powers like the United States to ensure freedom of navigation in critical waterways.
"I think what we're going to see in the next several days and weeks is a coordinated effort by the Trump administration to make sure our allies are on board in helping us keep these critical waterways open, free, and clear for freedom of navigation," he concluded.