Houthi Rebels Seize Key Port City in Yemen, Threatening Global Shipping
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have taken control of Yemen's strategic port city of Mokha, located about 80 kilometers from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This waterway connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and is crucial for global shipping, with around 12% of the world's goods typically passing through it.
The Houthis' takeover of Mokha represents their biggest territorial gain since a truce was signed in 2022 to end the civil war that began over a decade ago. The conflict has been ongoing between the Houthi rebels and Yemen's internationally recognized government, which is supported by Saudi Arabia.
The Bab el-Mandeb's importance has increased since shipping through the nearby Strait of Hormuz was impeded due to Iran's war with the United States and Israel. The Houthis have been at war with the Yemeni government since 2014 and have their own reasons for fighting, but it also serves Iran's interests by ramping up pressure on an American-allied oil producer.