Iran-backed Houthi fighters have reportedly captured the strategically important Yemeni port city of Mokha as fighting in Yemen intensifies, bringing the militia closer to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.
The reported advance marks a significant development in the conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
According to reports citing military sources, Houthi forces took control of Mokha, a city on Yemen’s western coast, and then began moving south toward Bab el-Mandeb. The narrow waterway lies around 70 kilometres south of Mokha and connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
Witnesses told AFP they saw Houthi fighters entering the city while chanting slogans including “Death to America, death to Israel.” Videos circulating on social media also appeared to show Houthi forces inside Mokha, although the footage could not initially be independently verified.
Residents were reportedly leaving the city amid fears that the fighting could escalate further.
Government forces retreat as Houthis expand their control
Reuters, citing Yemeni government sources, also reported that the Houthis had attacked the Hanish Islands off Yemen’s coast as government troops and their allies withdrew south toward Dhubab.
Control of Dhubab, together with nearby Perim Island, is considered strategically important for whoever seeks to dominate the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Any attempt to blockade the waterway could have major consequences for Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, particularly as Iran has already effectively disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, another crucial maritime route linking the Gulf with global markets.
Bab el-Mandeb, sometimes known as the “Gate of Tears”, has become even more strategically important during the war. It is a major route for oil and fuel shipments travelling from the Gulf region through the Suez Canal toward the Mediterranean, as well as for goods travelling in the opposite direction toward Asia.
The waterway has also become increasingly important for the movement of Russian oil and other commodities.
The Houthis have previously attacked commercial vessels in the Red Sea and, during the latest escalation, have announced measures targeting Saudi-linked shipping.
Conflict has already killed hundreds
The Houthis have been fighting Yemen’s Saudi-backed government, which is now based in Aden, for years. An informal ceasefire had largely held since 2022, but hostilities have recently intensified, with the Houthis and Saudi Arabia carrying out repeated air attacks.
Houthi forces have targeted Saudi energy infrastructure along the Red Sea coast, while Saudi Arabia has responded with dozens of airstrikes.
The Houthis claimed that Saudi forces carried out around 40 strikes on Thursday alone across the provinces of Taizz, Hodeida, Al Jawf and Marib. Those figures could not be independently verified.
More than 500 people have reportedly been killed in the latest fighting, while the Houthi advance toward Bab el-Mandeb threatens to add a new strategic dimension to the conflict.
If the militia succeeds in consolidating its position around the strait, Iran could gain another powerful lever over one of the world’s most important shipping routes, extending its regional influence beyond the Strait of Hormuz and into the Red Sea.
Be First to Comment