Houthi capture of Mocha puts Yemen’s supply routes under pressure
The reported seizure of the port city has displaced civilians and raised concerns over supply lines near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key Red Sea maritime route.
Houthi forces have reportedly captured the Yemeni port city of Mocha amid intensified fighting with the Saudi-backed government, according to Al Jazeera. The development has displaced civilians and placed anti-Houthi supply routes near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait under renewed pressure.
Hundreds of women and children reportedly fled Mocha towards the government-controlled provinces of Lahij and Aden. Al Jazeera reported that clashes across Taiz and al-Hodeidah provinces had displaced more than 20,000 people over the past two weeks.
The National Resistance Forces, led by Tareq Saleh and aligned with the Saudi-backed alliance supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government, reportedly withdrew from fighting around Mocha. The reason for the withdrawal remains unclear, with possible tactical repositioning and the force’s ability to withstand the offensive cited in the source reporting.
Al Jazeera also reported that fighting had spread to Hanish, Zuqar and Kamaran islands, as well as fronts in Hodeidah and Marib. Reuters, cited by Al Jazeera, linked reports of attacks around the Red Sea islands to four unnamed sources.
Mocha lies about 75 kilometres north of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal. Its reported capture could disrupt routes connecting the city with Taiz and affect maritime trade, although the extent and durability of Houthi control have not been independently confirmed.
The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office urged the Houthis to stop their attacks and escalation. The reported advance has heightened concerns about the conflict’s humanitarian impact and the security of a route used by energy and commercial shipping.
