Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement seized control of the historic port city of Mocha on Thursday, according to Yemeni government military sources cited by Reuters. The capture marks a significant territorial gain for the group as it pushes further south along the Red Sea coast, granting the forces increased leverage over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Houthis Seize Historic Port City of Mocha
Following the loss of Mocha, government forces and their allies are relocating south toward Dhubab, a coastal area situated directly on the strait and across from the island of Perim. Military sources note that maintaining control of Dhubab and nearby islands remains critical for holding the vital maritime passage. Concurrently, government sources reported that the Houthis have launched attacks on the strategic Red Sea islands of Hanish.
Gen. Tareq Saleh, whose forces are aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government, stated that members of his forces suffered casualties while confronting the Houthi offensive in recent days. According to Israel Hayom, Saleh reported that his command instructed western coastal forces to reorganize and establish an alternative headquarters in a secure location.
Threats to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Global Energy Supplies
The escalating offensive threatens to reopen a full-scale domestic conflict, endangering a United Nations-brokered truce that had largely halted years of fighting in Yemen since 2022. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait—frequently called the Gate of Tears due to its perilous navigation conditions—serves as the southern outlet of the Red Sea, connecting the waterway to the Gulf of Aden between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Eritrea on the African coast.
The strait represents one of the world’s most vital shipping routes for crude oil and fuel moving from the Gulf toward the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal or the Suez-Mediterranean pipeline on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. It also accommodates key commodities bound for Asia, including Russian oil. Analysts and market observers warn that blocking the narrow passage would isolate Gulf oil-producing nations, such as Saudi Arabia, from primary shipping lanes, particularly as disruptions continue around the Strait of Hormuz.
Amid the widening instability, preliminary ship-tracking data showed that approximately 28 commodity vessels passed through the Bab el-Mandeb, keeping traffic roughly in line with recent averages. Meanwhile, Brent crude rose above $100 a barrel for the first time since July as the broader regional conflict amplified concerns regarding global energy supplies, according to reporting by Ynetnews.
Regional Escalation and Cross-Border Strikes
The renewed fighting in Yemen coincides with an escalation of cross-border attacks and regional tensions involving Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the United States. The Houthis launched significant attacks targeting an air base at Khamis Mushait and oil infrastructure across four southern Saudi cities, resulting in dozens of injuries reported by the Saudi-led coalition.
Saudi civil defense authorities issued multiple emergency alerts in Khamis Mushait before lifting them. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated that Saudi warplanes responded with dozens of strikes across several parts of Yemen, including Taiz, Hodeidah, Jawf, Marib, and Saada provinces, warning that the air raids would not go unanswered.
Diplomatic channels have also been active amid the military escalation. According to regional sources, Pakistan conveyed a warning from Saudi Arabia to Tehran urging it to rein in the Houthis. A senior Iranian official responded that Iran does not control the group, while two Iranian sources indicated that Tehran had instructed the Houthis to carry out attacks against Saudi Arabia while promising additional funding, weapons, and coordination assistance from Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders.
