Yemen's Houthis seize strategic Red Sea port of Mokha
Houthi movement captures Mokha port, inching closer to the Bab al-Mandab strait as Middle East tensions push oil prices to $100.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Yemen's Houthi movement captures Mokha port from pro-government forces
- The advance brings the group closer to the vital Bab al-Mandab strait
- Spike in conflict with Saudi Arabia drives global oil prices past $100
- Drone and missile strikes injure civilians and disrupt oil facilities
Yemen's Houthi movement has successfully captured the strategic Red Sea port city of Mokha from Saudi-backed pro-government forces, according to military sources. The seizure of Mokha brings the Iran-backed group significantly closer to controlling the Bab al-Mandab strait, a vital shipping lane located about 75 kilometers or 46 miles to the south that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Reports indicate that hundreds of people have been killed and thousands displaced since the Houthis launched their offensive in the southwestern coastal region a week ago. This escalation coincides with a sharp rise in hostilities between the Houthis and neighboring Saudi Arabia, which has directly contributed to a surge in global oil prices.
On Tuesday, Saudi authorities reported that the Houthis launched dozens of drones and missiles targeting southern Saudi Arabia, injuring 73 civilians and triggering fires at multiple oil facilities that temporarily halted operations. The Houthis stated that the assault was in retaliation for recent Saudi air strikes in northwestern Yemen, including a strike on a prison in the town of Hazm, Jawf province, which local officials reported killed at least 23 civilians.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
A Saudi-led coalition of Arab states has supported the Yemeni government against the Houthis in the nation's protracted civil war for over a decade. A four-year informal ceasefire began to unravel in July when the Houthis declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia and initiated missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi airports, oil facilities, and tankers in the Red Sea, citing blockades on their own ports and airports.
The loss of Mokha and the escalation of attacks highlight the severe vulnerability of global energy shipping routes. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively constrained amid ongoing conflicts involving the US, Israel, and Iran, the Red Sea has become an absolute lifeline for Saudi oil exports, making any regional disruption an immediate catalyst for global economic instability and soaring fuel costs.
The Red Sea route has grown critically important for Saudi Arabia's oil exports following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf. Consequently, oil prices have hit $100 a barrel for the first time since July, fueling widespread international anxiety over further economic damage and a broader Middle East conflict.
Source: BBC World
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