Yemen’s Houthi movement seized control of the strategic Red Sea port city of Mocha on Thursday, forcing government-aligned forces to withdraw and pulling the Iran-backed group closer to complete dominance over the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
Houthi Forces Seize Strategic Red Sea Port of Mocha
Four Yemeni government military sources told Reuters that Houthi fighters captured the city following hours of heavy combat. Eyewitnesses and military sources confirmed the offensive on Thursday as fighting intensified across strategically vital areas along Yemen’s western coast.
If fully confirmed, the seizure hands the militia control over a critical access point to the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. The strait serves as one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes for the global oil and gas trade, running parallel to the Strait of Hormuz.
Tactical Troop Reorganization Follows Heavy Combat
In response to the advance, government forces and their allies transferred their equipment and weapons to an area south of Mocha as part of a tactical troop reorganization, military sources told dpa.
Videos circulating on social media and outlets affiliated with the Houthis reportedly showed militia fighters patrolling throughout the city, though it was not possible to independently verify the footage.
Gains Threaten Global Trade and Shipping Routes
The capture of Mocha marks the Iran-backed militia’s most significant territorial gain since a United Nations-brokered truce was signed in 2022. That agreement had left the conflict largely frozen for more than four years, preventing major engagements while failing to chart a path toward a permanent peace.
The renewed violence comes amid a broader regional conflict involving Iran. Because the Bab al-Mandab Strait has increasingly functioned as an alternative trade route to compensate for disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, analysts note that the loss of Mocha could give the Houthis a more systematic geographical base to monitor and block commercial shipping traffic in the Red Sea.
Houthi spokesperson Abdulsalam told Reuters that freedom of navigation and international trade in the Red Sea and the strait remain safe, maintaining that the group’s naval operations are limited to specific targets. The movement has previously launched attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea, asserting those actions were carried out in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Residents Flee as Saudi Airstrikes Hit Dhubab
As fighting intensified on Thursday, local eyewitnesses told dpa that many residents were fleeing Mocha out of fear of further military escalation. The town sits roughly 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the Bab el-Mandeb waterway, which divides the Red Sea from the Gulf of Aden.
Meanwhile, Houthi-affiliated media directed accusations southward and across the border. The Houthis’ Al-Masirah TV channel reported that the Saudi military launched 10 airstrikes on the Dhubab district in the western part of Taiz province, according to AFP. Dhubab is located directly south of Mocha.
Decade-Long Civil War Deepens Humanitarian Crisis
The decade-long civil war in Yemen has killed more than 150,000 people and driven vulnerable populations to the brink of famine. While the Houthis maintain control over the capital, Sanaa, along with major population centers in the north and west, the internationally recognized government operates from its headquarters in the southern city of Aden with substantial backing from Saudi Arabia.
