Houthis Seize Yemen Port City, Threaten Saudi Oil Exports
The Iran-aligned Houthis seized control of Yemen's port city of Mocha on Thursday and advanced down the Red Sea coast, threatening Saudi oil exports. The Houthis have gained leverage over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical shipping route that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Red Sea navigation is safe for all shipping companies except for Saudi vessels, according to the Yemeni Houthi-run humanitarian operations coordination centre. This development has raised concerns about freedom of navigation and could give Iran a strategic advantage in its conflict with the United States.
The Houthis' advance down the coast came with direct guidance from Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to Yemeni government, Iranian, and regional sources. Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam said that their operations were defensive and would stop once attacks on Yemen stopped.