Why Is the U.S. Intensifying Airstrikes on Yemen’s Kamaran Island?

In recent days, U.S. forces have launched a concentrated bombing campaign on Kamaran Island, located off the coast of Yemen’s Hudaydah governorate in the Red Sea. The persistent nature of these strikes—spanning more than 10 consecutive days—has sparked questions about the island’s strategic significance and whether Washington has military or geopolitical ambitions in the region.

Kamaran: Yemen’s Largest Island in the Red Sea

Kamaran is Yemen’s largest Red Sea island, among more than 40 scattered near the port city of Al-Salif. It spans roughly 100 square kilometres and lies just 6 km from the coast, making it a key security buffer for the once-active Al-Salif salt port.

Crucially, the island overlooks major international shipping lanes, and a lighthouse on its southern tip facilitates the navigation of commercial vessels passing through this critical maritime corridor.

A Long History of Strategic Importance

Kamaran has attracted the attention of empires throughout history. Its most notable historical site, Kamaran Fortress, dates back to the Persian occupation in 620 CE, and was later renovated during the Portuguese campaigns in 1517. The British, Ottomans, and Mamluks all used the island as a military base, and it served the British as a launchpad during World War I.

This long history of occupation highlights Kamaran’s perennial value in controlling the Red Sea—a legacy that today’s superpowers may seek to exploit.

Military Use by Houthis?

According to Yemeni political analyst Abdulaziz Al-Majidi, Kamaran serves as a forward observation and operations post for the Houthi movement, especially for monitoring naval activity in the Red Sea. He notes that the Houthis likely militarised the island after seizing power in Sana’a in 2014, despite its earlier status as a protected natural reserve.

Majidi suggests that the concentration of U.S. strikes may indicate attempts to:

• • Eliminate Houthi military facilities on the island,

• • Target a potential logistics hub involved in attacks on Red Sea shipping,

• • Or even strike at high-value assets, such as Iranian military advisors or intelligence units suspected of aiding the Houthis.

While Kamaran is inhabited by over 10,000 civilians, access to information has been limited, and the extent of the destruction remains unknown.

A Precursor to U.S. or Emirati Control?

Al-Majidi outlines two potential U.S. strategies:

1. 1. Undermine Houthi maritime capabilities through targeted bombardments.

1. 1. Prepare for direct or proxy control of the island—possibly handing it over to Emirati-backed local forces as a means of expanding Abu Dhabi’s influence in the Red Sea.

If such a transfer occurs, the UAE could transform Kamaran into both a military base and a tourism destination, exploiting its unique natural beauty and strategic location. This would mirror earlier UAE efforts to gain influence over Socotra Island and other parts of southern Yemen.

A Geopolitical Pivot Point

The U.S. strikes could also reflect deepening coordination between Washington and regional powers—particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia—to undermine the Houthi presence in Hudaydah and the Red Sea.

Majidi warns that the historical precedent is clear: every empire that has aspired to control the Red Sea—from the Portuguese to the British Empire—has sought to occupy Kamaran.

He also recalls a 2016 statement by Iran’s top general, Mohammad Bagheri, who stressed the strategic need for Iranian naval bases off the coast of Yemen, suggesting long-term Iranian ambitions in the region.

Conclusion

Whether the U.S. is aiming to cripple Houthi logistics, deny Iran a Red Sea foothold, or pave the way for Emirati expansion, Kamaran Island has once again emerged as a geopolitical chess piece in the high-stakes battle for control over Red Sea trade routes.

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