Houthis seize strategic port of Mocha and increase threat to shipping in Red Sea

Yemen's Houthis have claimed the capture of the strategic port city of Mocha on the Red Sea coast. The advance brings the group closer to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait - one of the key routes for world shipping.

The transfer of Mocha to Houthi control is reported by The New York Times and The Guardian, citing sources in Yemen. The city had long been controlled by forces loyal to the internationally recognized government of the country.

Government forces commander on the western coast, Tarek Saleh, confirmed the withdrawal of his units south of Mocha, citing the need to regroup. Meanwhile, Associated Press reported the presence of Houthi forces in the city, but noted it could not independently confirm full capture of Mocha.

Risks for Bab el-Mandeb grow

Mocha is located about 80 km from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and further to the Indian Ocean. Important trade routes between Asia and Europe pass through it.

The capture of the city expands the Houthi presence on Yemen's western coast and strengthens their ability to exert pressure on shipping in the region. The group has previously attacked commercial vessels and threatened to restrict maritime transport linked to Saudi Arabia.

The latest fighting is one of the most serious escalations in Yemen since the 2022 truce. In response, Saudi Arabia has intensified airstrikes on Houthi positions, while they continue their advance along the Red Sea coast.

The escalation around Bab el-Mandeb comes amid shipping problems through the Strait of Hormuz, leaving risks high for two key maritime routes in the Middle East simultaneously.

Based on materials from: The New York Times, The Guardian