Yemen's Houthi movement has reportedly seized the strategic Red Sea port of Mokha from Saudi-backed pro-government forces, according to military sources and multiple news outlets. The capture of Mokha, a key coastal city, brings the Iran-backed group closer to controlling the Bab al-Mandab strait, a vital shipping route linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The BBC reports that hundreds of people have been killed and thousands displaced since the Houthis launched an offensive in the south-western coastal region a week ago. The conflict has also escalated with the Houthis launching dozens of drones and missiles at southern Saudi Arabia, injuring 73 civilians and causing fires at several oil facilities, according to Saudi authorities.

The Al Jazeera report adds that the Houthis took over Mocha on Thursday, with sources indicating that internationally recognised government forces withdrew. Yemeni government sources confirmed the city had been taken, though the government has yet to issue an official statement. The capture of Mokha is described as a significant development, as it allows the Houthis to monitor international trade through the Bab al-Mand, which handles 10-12 percent of global trade. Wolfgang Pusztai, a defence analyst, noted that the narrowness of the strait means the Houthis could control it with artillery, posing a major threat to Saudi and international shipping.

Yemen’s ambassador to Qatar, Rajeh Badi, accused Iran of reigniting the war after a five-year lull and using the Houthis to tighten its grip on Red Sea shipping routes. Badi described the group as one of Iran’s key regional arms, alongside Hezbollah and the Popular Mobilisation Forces in Iraq. However, Pusztai cautioned that while Iran has significant influence over the Houthis, the group is also fighting its own war. The Houthi-affiliated news agency Saba reported that Saudi forces launched 40 air strikes on several governorates in southern Yemen, indicating the ongoing military tension.

Saudi foreign policy analyst Abdulaziz Alghashian described the rapid Houthi advance as concerning but not overly surprising, suggesting that the disorganisation of anti-Houthi forces may have contributed to the capture of Mokha. He noted that Saudi Arabia is likely to respond with a tit-for-tat approach rather than a prolonged campaign. Pakistan has warned Iran to restrain the Houthis and indicated that its defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey could become operational if Houthi attacks on Saudi territory continue. The three nations finalised a new mutual defence pact, the Mecca Defence Alliance, last month.

What remains unknown is the full extent of the Houthis’ control over the region and the precise number of casualties. The Yemeni government has not officially confirmed the capture of Mokha, and the situation on the ground may continue to evolve. The international community is closely monitoring the developments, as the control of key shipping routes could have significant implications for global trade and energy security.