Houthi Rebels Capture Yemen's Mokha Port City

The Iran‑backed Houthi rebel group announced on Thursday that it had seized control of Mokha, a Yemeni port city on the Red Sea coast. Mokha lies roughly 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the Bab el Mandeb Strait, a strategic waterway that links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and through which about 12 % of global trade passes. The takeover was confirmed by Houthi and Yemeni officials and reported by FRANCE 24 correspondent Nick Rushworth.

The capture of Mokha gives the Houthis a stronger foothold in the region, potentially allowing them to influence shipping routes that are critical to international commerce. The city’s proximity to the Bab el Mandeb Strait—a chokepoint that handles a significant portion of world goods—heightens concerns about maritime security and the stability of global supply chains. The move underscores the ongoing conflict in Yemen and its broader implications for Red Sea shipping lanes.