Yemen’s Houthi movement has reportedly seized control of Mokha, a strategically important port city on the country’s Red Sea coast, in a major development in the group’s ongoing conflict with government-backed forces.
The reported capture followed a week-long Houthi offensive in south-western Yemen that has allegedly left hundreds of people dead and displaced thousands more.
Mokha’s location gives the reported takeover particular significance. The port lies about 75 kilometres from the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital maritime corridor linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and connecting Europe and Asia through one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.
Control or influence over areas surrounding the strait could give the Houthis greater strategic leverage over regional maritime traffic at a time when tensions across the Middle East are already high.
The reported territorial gain also coincides with a sharp escalation in fighting between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi authorities said Houthi forces launched dozens of drones and missiles toward southern Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. According to the authorities, the attacks injured 73 civilians and caused fires at a number of oil facilities, forcing a temporary suspension of operations.
The Houthis said their attacks were carried out in response to Saudi air strikes against Houthi-held areas in north-western Yemen.
Among the reported Saudi strikes was an attack on a prison in Hazm in Jawf province. Local officials claimed at least 23 civilians were killed, although the casualty figure and circumstances surrounding the incident have not been independently verified based on the material available.
Saudi Arabia has been a key supporter of Yemen’s government during the country’s long-running civil war, backing military efforts against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
A fragile informal truce that had held for approximately four years began to collapse in July after the Houthis announced a “maritime embargo” targeting Saudi Arabia.
The group subsequently carried out missile and drone attacks against Saudi airports, oil facilities and vessels operating in the Red Sea, saying it was responding to restrictions on ports and airports in areas under its control.
The Houthis have also blamed Saudi Arabia for an air strike on Sanaa airport.
The latest developments have intensified concerns over the future of shipping and energy supplies in the Red Sea region. The waterway has become particularly significant for Saudi oil exports following disruption around the Strait of Hormuz during the wider US-Israel conflict with Iran.
With Mokha reportedly now under Houthi control, attention is likely to focus increasingly on the security of the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the potential impact on regional and international trade.
