Yemen's Houthi movement has reportedly captured the vital Red Sea port city of Mokha, pushing Saudi-backed government forces out following a week of intense southwestern fighting. Visual media broadcast by Houthi television channels showed armed fighters inside the coastal municipality. The development brings the Iran-allied faction within roughly seventy-five kilometers of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical maritime corridor connecting Europe and Asia.
The offensive has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis in the region. Local residents reported that combat erupted suddenly on Wednesday night, prompting widespread panic and forcing thousands of families to abandon their homes. Many displaced civilians have sought refuge by traveling east toward Aden, where the internationally recognized Yemeni government is headquartered. Witnesses described chaotic scenes of destruction and injury as people fled without belongings or shelter.
In response to the Houthi advance, a coalition of Arab states led by Saudi Arabia launched numerous airstrikes targeting western Yemeni provinces. Meanwhile, Houthi forces have retaliated with drone and missile strikes directed at southern Saudi cities and petroleum facilities. The escalating violence has severely impacted regional stability and contributed to rising global oil prices.
Military sources indicate that the offensive extended beyond the mainland port. Houthi fighters reportedly launched a coordinated assault utilizing rocket fire and watercraft to seize Zuqar Island, located northwest of Mokha in the Red Sea. Leadership figures within the pro-government National Resistance Forces confirmed relocating their western command centers following heavy losses against the Iranian-backed campaign.
While the formal leadership of the Houthi movement has not explicitly confirmed every detail of the port's fall, their political council announced that operations in the western districts had successfully cleared out opposing forces. Houthi officials have publicly insisted they pose no hazard to general international maritime traffic. However, they maintained that a strict embargo targeting vessels linked to Saudi Arabia remains firmly in place.
The Yemeni government has appealed for international intervention to safeguard its coastal borders and counter the territorial gains made by the faction. Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Presidential Leadership Council, called upon regional partners to assist in restoring state authority. As hostilities persist, the shifting military dynamics threaten to further complicate efforts to stabilize the strategic waterway.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC News. Read the original report at BBC News.
