Houthis Capture Mokha, Near Key Red Sea Strait

Houthis – (Special Correspondent/Web Desk) – Houthis capture Mokha, a key port city on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, after days of fierce fighting with Saudi-backed government forces. The takeover puts the Iran-backed group just 75 kilometers from the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a narrow waterway vital to global trade between Asia and Europe.

Local residents say Houthi fighters moved into Mokha on Wednesday night after intense clashes. Families ran from their homes in fear. Streets filled with injured people, and no help arrived in time.

One resident said the attack came without any warning. People panicked and scattered, leaving everything behind. Government offices and shops in the city stayed shut the next day.

Many displaced families are now heading toward Aden, where Yemen’s internationally recognized government is based. Some said they left with nothing but their children, no bedding, no food, and no time to prepare.

The Houthis have not officially confirmed capturing Mokha. However, their Supreme Political Council said fighting had stopped in the western coast areas after pushing out Saudi-backed forces.

A local military source also told news agencies that Houthi fighters seized Zuqar Island, located near Mokha in the Red Sea, using boats and rocket fire.

Yemen’s government leader, Rashad al-Alimi, has called on Arab nations and other countries to help protect Yemen’s coastline and restore control to the state.

The Houthis say they pose no danger to international ships passing through the Red Sea. Still, they confirmed their embargo on Saudi vessels remains active.

Saudi Arabia has carried out dozens of air strikes on Houthi-held areas in recent days. The Houthis, in turn, have fired missiles and drones at cities and oil sites inside southern Saudi Arabia.

This rising conflict has already caused a jump in global oil prices. Hundreds of people have died, and thousands more have lost their homes since the fighting began about a week ago.

The years-long war between Yemen’s government and the Houthi movement continues to grow more dangerous, with no clear end in sight.