Houthi militants seized a port city near the exit of the Red Sea
Houthi militants have captured the port city of Mocha on Yemen's western coast and strengthened their positions near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait — the southern exit of the Red Sea, writes DW.
Yemeni Houthi fighter. Photo: AP Photo / Osamah Abdulrahman
The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait gained strategic importance since the beginning of the US and Israel's war against Iran — it is used as an alternative trade route, allowing to partially compensate for disruptions in oil supplies caused by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
If the Iran-backed Houthi militants manage to establish full control over this waterway, Tehran could gain a significant military advantage, leading to a reduction in energy supplies and a sharp rise in oil prices, Reuters notes.
The Houthi advance came hours after US President Donald Trump stated that he expects the war with Iran to end after the US midterm elections in November 2026. If the Houthis maintain control over Bab-el-Mandeb, the White House will have fewer options for exiting the conflict, Reuters writes.
Currently, the forces of Yemen's internationally recognized government and their allies are forced to retreat south along the Red Sea coast. Houthi representatives have already stated that shipping in the Red Sea is safe for all companies, with the exception of vessels from Saudi Arabia — the largest oil exporter, which is involved in the conflict on the side of the Yemeni government.
The captured city is marked in red. Google.maps
In early September, Houthi militants announced an expansion of military operations in the Middle East and launched attacks on four cities in southern Saudi Arabia. As a result of the massive shelling, over 70 people were injured, and fires broke out at oil facilities. In turn, Saudi Arabia carried out over 60 airstrikes on several Houthi-controlled provinces.
Since 2014, Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war, which has already led to the de facto division of the country among three opposing sides. Pro-Iranian Houthi militants have occupied the northern and western provinces of Yemen, including the capital city of Sanaa, where about 70% of the population resides.