Yemen's Houthis reportedly seize strategic Red Sea port of Mokha

Yemen's Houthi rebels have taken control of the strategically important Red Sea port city of Mokha, military sources report. This move brings the Iran-backed group closer to gaining control over the Bab al-Mandab strait, a crucial shipping route 46 miles south that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The Houthi offensive in the southwestern coastal region has resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of displaced individuals over the past week.

Simultaneously, the conflict between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia has intensified, contributing to a rise in global oil prices. On Tuesday, the Houthis launched a barrage of drones and missiles towards southern Saudi Arabia, causing 73 civilian injuries and sparking fires at multiple oil facilities, leading to a temporary shutdown in operations, according to Saudi officials.

The Houthis claimed the attacks were in retaliation for Saudi airstrikes on their territory in northwestern Yemen, including an attack on a prison in Hazm town that reportedly killed 23 civilians. The Saudi-led coalition of Arab states has been supporting Yemen's government against the Houthis in the country's long-standing civil war.

A ceasefire, which had been in place for four years, began to break down in July after the Houthis declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia and began launching missiles and drones towards Saudi installations. This action was a response to the Saudi blockade of ports and airports in their territory, as well as an airstrike on Sanaa airport that the Houthis blamed on the kingdom.

Due to the ongoing conflict, the Red Sea has become crucial for Saudi Arabia's oil exports, as the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed by the US and Israel's war with Iran.