Houthis Seize Key Port City in Yemen Amid Escalating Tensions with Saudi Arabia
The Houthi rebel group has taken control of Yemen's port city of Mokha, a strategic location that plays a crucial role in controlling shipping through the Red Sea. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is located nearby, connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and is responsible for about 12% of global goods shipments.
The importance of the Bab el-Mandeb to global oil supplies has increased since Iran impeded shipping through the nearby Strait of Hormuz during its war with the United States and Israel. The Houthis' takeover of Mokha marks their biggest territorial gain since a truce was signed in 2022 to end a civil war that began over a decade ago.
Shipping through the Bab al Mandeb has fallen by about 60% since Houthis began attacking ships there in late 2023, prompting many companies to abandon the route. The Houthis' increased activity in the region is also seen as a pressure tactic on Saudi Arabia, which supports Yemen's government.