Houthis seize Mokha port and control Bab Al-Mandab Strait chokepoints
Yemen's Houthi militia has captured the strategic port of Mokha and adjacent islands, securing leverage over shipping routes through both the Bab Al-Mandab Strait and the Strait of Hormuz.
The Houthis have seized control of the port of Mokha, Perim Island at the mouth of the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, and the Hanish and Zuqar islands. This expansion confirms their ability to threaten international maritime traffic across two critical waterways: the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab Al-Mandab Strait. The group previously targeted oil facilities in Marib province before closing in on Mokha. Civil Defense officials reported that projectiles launched against Saudi Arabia's Jazan region injured two people and damaged a mosque, several buildings, and vehicles. Authorities labeled such targeting of civilian objects a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. Analysts note that securing these territories allows Iran to potentially halt oil shipping through both major straits. These developments occur during weeks leading up to the US midterm elections.
