Houthis seize port city in offensive aimed toward Bab el-Mandeb Strait
The Houthis seized a strategic Yemeni port city on Thursday, bringing the Iranian-backed militant group closer to controlling a key stretch of the Red Sea coast and threatening a critical trade and energy route.
TL;DR
- The Houthi militant group seized the strategic Yemeni port city of Mokha.
- This advances their control over a key stretch of the Red Sea coast.
- The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical trade and energy route, is threatened.
- Approximately 4.2 million barrels of oil and petroleum products passed through the Bab el-Mandeb daily in the first half of 2025.
- The Houthis have been attacking commercial vessels transiting the strait since November 2023.
- Mokha is a major resupply hub for government forces.
- Saudi Arabia has used pipelines to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, but this route remains vulnerable to Houthi attacks.
- The Houthis are an Iranian-backed militant group.