Houthis seize Red Sea city, tighten grip near strategic Bab al-Mandeb: What to know

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have seized the vital Red Sea city of Mocha, bolstering their control over the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait, a critical global trade route. The group, backed by Iran, took Mocha on Thursday, with internationally recognized government forces retreating, according to sources speaking to Al Jazeera’s Yemen correspondent, Yousef Mawry. Yemeni government sources corroborated Reuters news agency reporting that the city was taken.

The Yemeni government had put up a fight, calling for reinforcements, but the Houthis’ overwhelming military might eventually resulted in their control of the port and city, Mawry explained. The strategic district of Hais was also captured. The government has not yet officially confirmed the takeover. In the past week, the Houthis have been pushing west of Taiz with the goal of taking Mocha.

They are also near complete control of other coastal cities lining the strait, attempting to seize the entirety of Yemen’s Red Sea coast.

Mawry stated that the Houthi control of Mocha’s port grants them access to the Bab al-Mandeb strait. This provides them with oversight and the ability to monitor international trade, a route responsible for 10-12 percent of the world’s commerce. Defense analyst Wolfgang Pusztai remarked that the seizure of Mocha is a significant development, enabling the rebels to cut off the road to Taiz, a major blow to the government.

Furthermore, it grants them control over most of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandeb, he told Al Jazeera.

Pusztai noted that while the Strait of Hormuz is approximately 50 kilometers wide, the Bab al-Mandeb is significantly narrower at about 20 kilometers. This narrowness means that the Houthis could control the strait using artillery alone, without needing to employ missiles or drones to attack ships. This development could prove devastating to Saudi Arabian and international shipping.