Houthis capture Yemen's Mokha port, heightening risk to Red Sea shipping

The Iran-aligned Houthi movement took control of Mokha, a Red Sea port about 75 km north of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, on Thursday, according to Yemeni and Houthi officials cited by the Associated Press. The city, historically known for Mocha coffee, is a strategic point for maritime traffic linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

Analysts said the loss represents a significant setback for Saudi Arabia and Yemeni forces it supports, and could allow the Houthis to press closer to the Bab el-Mandeb, one of the world’s key oil chokepoints. > "The Houthis were already threatening Saudi shipping from previous positions, but their capture of Mocha opens up the possibility of further advances towards the Bab el-Mandeb coastline and a tighter grip on the chokepoint," said Hamish Kinnear, principal Middle East and North Africa analyst at Verisk Maplecroft.

Oil benchmarks remained above $100 per barrel, with Brent futures down 2.1% to $105.37 and U.S. WTI futures down 1.7% to $100.76, as markets priced in the heightened regional risk. ING strategists noted that while oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz continue, they are well below pre-conflict levels, underscoring the fragility of supply. > "Saudi energy infrastructure and crude oil exports from the Red Sea are increasingly at risk, with the Houthis in Yemen targeting Saudi Arabia," wrote Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey of ING. > "As the Houthis have taken control of the Red Sea port of Mokha in Yemen, recent events increase the threat to shipping around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait," they added.