How Iranian arms helped Houthis seize key Red Sea port in 'lightning' blitz
Iranian-backed Houthis launched a rapid offensive to seize Yemen's Red Sea port city of Mocha, aided by Iranian-supplied weapons, drones, and direct guidance from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The lightning advance has significantly bolstered the Houthi control over a strategically important stretch of the Red Sea, near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial maritime route linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
Iran has reportedly provided additional funding, weapons, and senior officers to support the campaign against Saudi Arabia, with several IRGC commanders traveling to Yemen to oversee and command Houthi attacks targeting the country. The Houthis' expanding arsenal, fueled by Iranian weapons and smuggling networks, played a critical role in the speed of the offensive.
The capture of Mocha, located around 80 kilometers from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, could potentially threaten shipping through one of the world's key maritime routes and increase pressure on oil prices, heightening tensions with the US and Saudi Arabia.
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