Houthi forces have seized the strategic Yemeni Red Sea port city of Mokha, according to multiple media reports and regional sources, marking one of the group’s most significant territorial gains since fighting escalated in recent months.
The advance brings Houthi forces closer to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical maritime corridor linking the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The group has said international navigation remains safe while maintaining its embargo on Saudi vessels.
Key developments:
- Mokha was captured following clashes with Saudi-backed government forces.
- The advance increases pressure on the strategically important Bab al-Mandab Strait.
- Fighting has displaced civilians and intensified the humanitarian situation.
- Escalating hostilities have added pressure to global oil markets.
Rashad al-Alimi, Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, called for international support to help secure Yemen’s coastline and restore government control.
The reported capture of Mokha marks a significant shift in the conflict’s strategic balance, extending beyond Yemen’s domestic war. With fighting now centred closer to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, renewed instability could further affect one of the world’s most important maritime trade corridors at a time when shipping routes and energy markets are already under pressure.
The latest offensive also raises the prospect of a broader regional escalation, with Saudi Arabia increasing military operations and concerns growing that the conflict could become more deeply intertwined with wider Middle East tensions.
ℹ️ BBC News
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