Oil choke points multiply as Houthis seize Mocha

Cairo/Washington/Dubai: The Houthis, an Iran-aligned militant group, have seized control of Yemen's port city of Mocha, escalating the conflict and threatening global energy supplies. This comes just days after President Donald Trump expressed confidence that the war would conclude after the U.S. midterm elections. The Houthis, who entered the conflict in March alongside Iran by attacking Israel, have been conducting naval blockades against Saudi Arabia and intensifying attacks in the south of the kingdom since September.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial shipping route connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf, is now in the hands of the Houthis. This strategic location is essential for the flow of oil and other commodities to the Mediterranean and Asia.

Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, has long relied on the Red Sea shipping route, which has been heavily disrupted by the ongoing conflict. The crisis has prompted Saudi civil defense authorities to issue emergency alerts in Khamis Mushait for the fourth time in 24 hours, amid continuous Houthi attacks.

Pakistan has warned Iran to curb its support for the Houthis, while Iran has denied controlling the militant group. The conflict in Yemen has seen a significant increase in tensions, with both Saudi Arabia and Iran staging tit-for-tat attacks on shipping in the Gulf region. Brent crude prices have surged above $100 a barrel due to disrupted supply routes through both the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.