Yemen's Houthis have taken the strategic Red Sea port of Mokha from Saudi-backed pro-government forces. The capture places the group 75km from the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key trade route between Asia and Europe. Military sources and witnesses report hundreds killed and thousands displaced in the southwest offensive that began a week earlier. The Houthis stated they pose no threat to international shipping but maintained their embargo on Saudi vessels.
What happened in Mokha?
According to military sources and local witnesses cited by BBC Arabic, Houthi fighters entered Mokha after clashes with pro-government forces. The takeover left the Iran-backed group 75km from the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Residents described sudden fighting that prompted families to flee eastward toward Aden. One man told BBC Arabic that injured people were left in the streets with no immediate help available. Government offices and shops remained closed the following day while Houthi fighters patrolled the streets. The group's Supreme Political Council said clashes had ceased in the western coast districts after the expulsion of Saudi enemy mobilisations, according to Houthi-run Al Masirah TV. A Yemeni military source told AFP that Houthi fighters had also seized Zuqar Island in the Red Sea after launching a barrage of rockets and a ground assault using boats. Tarek Salah, leader of the pro-government National Resistance Forces, said he had moved his command centre on the west coast to a safe location and that his forces had paid a heavy price in recent days in the face of a Houthi offensive that was planned and supported by Iran. Mokha residents said Houthi fighters moved into the city after fierce clashes with pro-government forces on Wednesday night, prompting many families to flee their homes. The takeover came without warning, with panic spreading throughout the area and forcing people to flee amid distressing scenes.
How close is Mokha to the Bab al-Mandab Strait and what does it mean for shipping?
Mokha lies approximately 75km from the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the southern entry point to the Red Sea trade corridor linking Asia and Europe. The Houthis' Supreme Political Council stated that navigation in the Red Sea remains safe while asserting the right to defend Yemeni sovereignty and territorial waters. The same statement maintained the existing embargo on Saudi ships. The Houthi-run humanitarian operations co-ordination centre also stressed that the embargo on Saudi ships remained in place. The escalation of the conflict between the Houthis, Yemen's government and Saudi Arabia has contributed to a surge in oil prices. Oil hits $100 a barrel for first time since July after US and Houthi strikes. The Houthis said they posed no threat to international shipping but reiterated their threat to target vessels from Saudi Arabia, which has relied on the Red Sea for oil exports since the US and Israel's war effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf. The Houthis' capture leaves the group only 75km away from the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the southern gateway to a trade route that links Asia and Europe.
What statements have the Houthis and pro-government forces issued?
The Houthis' Supreme Political Council said clashes had ceased in western coast districts after the expulsion of Saudi-backed forces, according to Houthi-run Al Masirah TV. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea reported 64 Saudi-led coalition air strikes across Taiz, Hudaydah, Marib and Jawf provinces in the preceding 24 hours. Tarek Salah, leader of the pro-government National Resistance Forces, said his command centre had moved to a safe location and that his forces had paid a heavy price against an Iranian-supported offensive. Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Presidential Leadership Council, urged Arab states and other countries to help protect Yemen's coasts and restore state control. The spokesman of the Saudi-led coalition of Arab states fighting in Yemen said it would respond to a series of Houthi missile and drone attacks on the south-western Saudi cities of Khamis Mushait, Abha and Jazan. On Tuesday, the Houthis launched dozens of drones and missiles at southern Saudi Arabia, injuring 73 civilians and causing fires at several oil facilities that led to a temporary halt in operations, according to Saudi authorities. The Houthis said they were retaliating for dozens of Saudi air strikes on territory they control in recent days, including one on a prison in the town of Hazm in Jawf province on Monday that they said killed at least 23 civilians.
What is the reported impact on civilians in southwest Yemen?
Residents described scenes of panic and displacement. One woman told BBC Arabic that families fled with only their children and no belongings after their homes were destroyed. Many displaced people are heading toward Aden. The source material states that hundreds of people have reportedly been killed and thousands displaced since the offensive began. The Saudi-led coalition conducted air strikes on Houthi-controlled areas, while the Houthis launched missiles and drones at southern Saudi cities and oil facilities. "The takeover came without warning. Panic spread throughout the area, forcing people to flee amid distressing scenes of injured people lying in the streets with no-one there to help them," one man told BBC Arabic's Middle East Lifeline programme. Another man said that Houthi fighters were patrolling the streets of Mokha, while government offices and shops were closed. "At the moment, we don't know what Ansar Allah will do," he added, using the group's formal name. "Everyone is afraid for their safety." "We fled with our children and kept running. We have no bedding, no home, nothing with us. Everything was destroyed within an hour. They didn't even give us a chance or warn us beforehand," one woman told BBC Arabic. "We are women with no means of defending ourselves, and we have innocent children with us."
Frequently asked questions
Has the Houthis' capture of Mokha been independently confirmed?
No immediate confirmation came directly from Houthi leadership at the time of reporting. The group's Supreme Political Council issued a statement describing the end of clashes in western coastal districts.
Did the Houthis threaten international shipping?
The Houthis stated they posed no threat to international shipping while reiterating their embargo on Saudi vessels and threat to target Saudi-linked ships.
Where are displaced residents from Mokha going?
Many families are reported to be moving east toward Aden, where Yemen's internationally recognised government is based.
What triggered the latest Houthi offensive?
The four-year informal ceasefire began to unravel in July when the Houthis announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia and began attacks on Saudi airports, oil facilities and tankers.
How many air strikes did the Saudi-led coalition conduct recently?
Houthi spokesman Yahya Sarea said the coalition carried out 64 strikes across four western provinces in the 24 hours before reporting.
Key takeaways
Houthis captured Mokha port according to military sources and witnesses. The port lies 75km from the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Reports indicate hundreds killed and thousands displaced in the offensive. The Houthis maintained an embargo on Saudi ships while stating Red Sea navigation remains safe. The Saudi-led coalition conducted air strikes in response to Houthi missile and drone attacks.
Conclusion
The reported seizure of Mokha adds a new dimension to the long-running conflict in Yemen. Both sides have issued statements framing their actions as defensive, while civilian displacement continues toward Aden. Further developments will depend on whether the Houthis consolidate control of the western coast or face renewed counter-offensives.