Iran-backed Houthi rebels seize the strategic Yemeni Red Sea port city of Mokha, according to multiple outlets citing officials and military sources. The takeover comes as fighting intensifies and Yemen’s conflict appears to be escalating again.
Mokha’s location places it near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the gateway between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, a route used for a significant share of global goods. Several reports say the capture strengthens the Houthis’ leverage in the area and increases the threat to shipping, with the New York Times and BBC specifically linking the move to potential attacks in the crucial waterway.
Outlets differ slightly in emphasis and framing: some describe the Houthis routing Yemeni government forces with an implied shift in control from government allies, while others focus on the broader context of Saudi-backed and Houthi-aligned forces. France 24 highlights the shipping significance and the proximity to Bab el-Mandeb, while DW underscores the risk of a return to civil war. Al-Monitor also reports fresh exchanges of strikes, including claims of Saudi action during or around the offensive.
