Houthi fighters entered Mokha on Thursday, taking control of the Red Sea port city that sits just north of the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

Mokha falls amid wider offensive

The rebels seized the municipal headquarters and the main harbour, according to Yemeni officials who described the advance as a breach of the UN‑backed ceasefire. Local witnesses said Houthi vehicles rolled through the streets while residents watched from doorways.

Yemen’s internationally recognised government condemned the move, calling it an “unprovoked aggression” that threatens the fragile truce that has held since early 2025.

Strategic stakes at Bab el-Mandeb

Control of Mokha puts the Houthis within striking distance of the Bab el-Mandeb, the narrow chokepoint linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The strait handles roughly three per cent of global oil shipments and about ten per cent of total maritime trade, according to the International Maritime Organisation.

Analysts note that the rebels appear to be emulating Iran’s 2019 blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, seeking to leverage the waterway to extract political concessions. The United Nations has warned that any disruption could reverberate through supply chains from Europe to Asia.

Implications for global shipping

Shipping companies have already issued advisories, urging vessels to reroute around the southern entrance of the Red Sea or to increase onboard security. The US Navy’s Fifth Fleet said it was monitoring the situation closely and stood ready to protect commercial traffic.

Regional powers, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have called for an urgent diplomatic response, fearing that a Houthi hold on Bab el-Mandeb could jeopardise the flow of oil and humanitarian aid to Yemen.

The next few days will determine whether the rebels consolidate their hold on Mokha or push further south. International observers expect a possible escalation as the Houthis test the limits of the truce and the willingness of external actors to intervene.