Yemen’s Houthi rebels have taken control of the strategic Red Sea port city of Mocha, in a major development that could further threaten international shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The Iran-backed group captured Mocha on Thursday after internationally recognised Yemeni government forces withdrew from the city, according to sources cited by Al Jazeera. Three Yemeni government officials also confirmed the development to Reuters.
The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, have been advancing west of Taiz for about 10 days as part of an offensive aimed at capturing Mocha and expanding their control along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
A number of government sources said Hais district had also fallen to the rebels.
Al Jazeera correspondent Yousef Mawry said the Yemeni government had attempted to defend Mocha by deploying reinforcements, but came under overwhelming pressure from the Houthi forces.
The capture of Mocha gives the Houthis greater strategic leverage over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime chokepoint through which an estimated 10 to 12 per cent of global trade passes.
Defence analyst Wolfgang Pusztai described the seizure as a major setback for Yemen’s internationally recognised government, saying it could allow the Houthis to cut the main road linking Mocha with Taiz and strengthen their control over much of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline.
Pusztai also warned that the narrowness of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait could make it easier for the Houthis to threaten shipping using artillery, without necessarily relying on missiles or drones.
“This would certainly be a major blow to Saudi Arabian shipping and international shipping,” he said.
Yemen’s ambassador to Qatar, Rajeh Badi, accused Iran of helping to reignite the conflict after years of relative calm and using the Houthis to increase its influence over key Red Sea shipping routes.
However, Pusztai said that although Iran has significant influence over the Houthis, the group is not simply an Iranian proxy and is also pursuing its own military and political objectives.
The latest development comes amid escalating fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces. The Houthis have also carried out attacks against oil facilities and civilian infrastructure inside Saudi Arabia.
The Houthi-affiliated Saba news agency reported that Saudi forces conducted another 40 air strikes on areas including Taiz, Hodeidah, al-Jawf and Marib.
Saudi foreign policy analyst Abdulaziz Alghashian described the Houthi advance as concerning, but said the capture of Mocha may have resulted more from the disorganisation of anti-Houthi forces than from the rebels' military strength.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has urged Iran to restrain the Houthis and warned that its new defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye could become operational if attacks on Saudi territory continue.
The developments raise fresh concerns about the security of one of the world's most important maritime trade routes and the possibility of a wider regional conflict.
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