Houthis seize key Red Sea port, threaten global shipping routes

Photo — Muhammed Zahid Bulut / Pexels

Multiple major outlets report that Houthi fighters in Yemen, backed by Iran, have seized or are on the verge of controlling the strategic Red Sea port of Mokha, bringing them closer to dominating the Bab el-Mandab Strait, a key global shipping route between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean.[2][8][9] This advance along the Yemeni coast poses a direct threat to Saudi oil exports and commercial traffic through one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, with Al Jazeera noting that the UN Security Council has convened over the Yemen situation as Houthis move on Mocha.[2][4][7] BBC, CNN and other outlets link the deterioration in Red Sea security and the broader Iran-linked conflict to a sharp jump in global oil prices, with Brent crude hitting about $105 per barrel, driving up gas and borrowing costs as markets brace for a prolonged supply shock.[5][7][9] The combination of an escalating regional proxy conflict, heightened risks to energy and trade flows, and urgent international diplomatic activity makes the Houthi advance on Mokha and Bab el-Mandab one of the most consequential breaking stories globally right now.[2][4][7][8][9]

Sources: Reuters, BBC, Al Jazeera, CNN, NBC News, AP News