Houthis seize strategic Yemeni Red Sea port city of Mokha

Photo — Miguel Cuenca / Pexels

Iran-aligned Houthi fighters have taken control of Yemen’s key Red Sea port city of Mokha from Saudi-backed forces, according to multiple international reports. The port lies on a critical stretch of the Red Sea coast near major international shipping routes that connect the Suez Canal with the Arabian Sea, meaning any disruption or militarization there can affect global trade and energy flows. The Houthi advance down the Red Sea coast toward strategic islands and chokepoints comes against the backdrop of wider confrontation between Iran and a Saudi- and Western-backed coalition, and follows months of Houthi attacks and threats against shipping and regional infrastructure. Military sources say the latest gains may give the group greater leverage over maritime traffic and complicate efforts by regional and global powers to secure the waterway, raising the risk of further escalation and possible international naval responses.

Sources: Reuters, TimesOfIndia, NewsNow