Sources say Houthis seize Yemen’s Red Sea port of Mocha
Four Yemeni government military sources told France 24 the reported seizure could increase Houthi leverage over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, but the claims have not been independently confirmed.
Iran-aligned Houthi militants have seized control of Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Mocha, according to four Yemeni government military sources cited by France 24.
The sources said the reported seizure had given the Houthis greater leverage over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major shipping route and the southern outlet of the Red Sea.
They also said Houthi forces were attacking the strategic Hanish Islands. The reported developments could affect shipping and energy flows, although the scale and likelihood of any wider disruption remain unclear.
The claims concern a strategically important part of the Yemen conflict, with the Bab el-Mandeb Strait serving as a major route for maritime traffic.
The reported seizure of Mocha and attacks on the islands have not been independently confirmed. The timing and operational extent of the developments are also unclear.
