Houthis seize Yemen's Mokha port on the Red Sea as attacks on Saudi Arabia escalate

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have taken control of the crucial Red Sea port of Mokha, Yemen, following days of intense conflict with government forces. This expansion of their territory along the Red Sea and near the Bab Al Mandeb shipping route signifies a significant victory for the Houthis, providing them with a strategic stronghold on Yemen's western coast.

Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Vice Chairman Tareq Saleh announced that government forces have sustained casualties during the ongoing Houthi attacks. Mokha, situated roughly 150km south of the Houthi-held port city of Hodeidah, has long served as a key base for government forces attempting to oust the rebels. The port's seizure marks a major gain for the Houthis, as it overlooks one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

The escalation of hostilities comes amid intensified clashes throughout Yemen, with the Houthis also intensifying their attacks on Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping. Saudi Arabia issued emergency guidelines urging residents to remain calm and follow official instructions in response to the attacks. In retaliation, the Saudi-led coalition launched 54 air strikes across Yemen, targeting cities including Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Jazan.

The coalition maintained that their response aimed to protect the kingdom's sovereignty, national assets, and civilians, in line with international law. Meanwhile, Pakistan expressed strong disapproval of the Houthi attacks, reaffirming its support for Saudi Arabia and warning of consequences for any further aggression. The Houthis, backed by Iran since their takeover in 2014, have portrayed themselves as partners rather than mere proxies of Tehran.

However, former US deputy special envoy for Yemen Allison Minor noted that the Houthis possess their own ambitions and have been more reckless than previous Iranian-backed groups, such as Lebanon's Hezbollah. Despite recent Yemeni government efforts to engage with the Houthis militarily, the conflict has escalated to its most violent stage in four years, posing significant challenges for a political resolution.