Houthis seize key Yemeni port of Mocha in drive to take control of Red Sea coast

Live updates

1. 4d ago

   Houthis seize Mocha port and reach Perim Island in Red Sea offensive

   Iran-backed Houthi rebels have captured the strategic port city of Mocha and reached Perim Island, intensifying their control over the Red Sea coast. This offensive threatens the Bab al-Mandab shipping route, a critical global chokepoint for energy flows. The territorial gains come amid a widening regional conflict and rising oil prices, which now exceed $100 a barrel. These developments put the country's truce at risk and increase the potential for a return to full-scale civil war as the rebels move toward total control of two primary shipping chokepoints.

   Why it matters

   The Bab al-Mandab strait is a vital artery for global oil supplies and maritime trade. Houthi control over this area allows Iran and its proxies to disrupt international shipping routes. The current escalation follows a broader conflict involving Iran and the United States.

   What is confirmed

   • Houthi rebels seized the strategic Red Sea port city of Mocha.
   • The Houthi offensive threatens the Bab al-Mandab shipping route.
   • The Houthi group is backed by Iran.
   • Oil prices have exceeded $100 a barrel.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Tens of thousands of people are fleeing the fighting.
   • Iranian arms enabled the seizure of the port via a lightning blitz.
   • The territorial grab is a result of Donald Trump's war on Iran.

   What to watch next

   • Whether the Houthis establish full military control over Perim Island
   • The reaction of Saudi Arabia to the loss of the port
   • Evidence of a formal collapse of the Yemeni truce
   Sources used for this update (18)

   1. Al Jazeera — Iran war live: Houthis advance near Red Sea coast threatening Bab al-Mandeb
   2. The New York Times — Why Yemen Is Back on the Brink of War
   3. The New York Times — Yemen’s Houthis Seize Strategic Red Sea Port, Officials Say
   4. CNN — Exclusive: This small island off Yemen is now a strategic prize in the widening Iran war
   5. theguardian.com — Houthis seize key Yemeni port of Mocha in drive to take control of Red Sea coast
   6. apnews.com — Yemen risks a return to civil war as Iran-backed rebels target a crucial shipping route
   7. Reuters — Houthis seize key Yemeni Red Sea port, sources say, threatening global energy flows
   8. Financial Times — Houthis capture Red Sea port in blow to Saudis
   9. Al Jazeera — Yemen’s Houthis seize strategic Red Sea city of Mocha
   10. BBC — Yemen's Houthis reportedly seize strategic Red Sea port of Mokha
   11. AP News — Houthi rebels reach a strategic port city in Yemen in a major threat to the country’s truce
   12. CNN — Iran-backed rebels capture Red Sea port, tightening grip on a key global chokepoint
   confidence 90%