Houthis seize Mocha, tightening grip on strategic Bab al-Mandeb

Yemen’s Houthis have seized the crucial Red Sea city of Mocha, expanding control over the strategic ⁠Bab al-Mandeb ⁠strait, one of the world’s most ‌important trade routes.

The Iran-backed group took over Mocha while internationally recognised government forces withdrew, sources told Al Jazeera. Three Yemeni government sources also said that the city had been taken.

“The Yemeni government tried to put up a fight; they called reinforcements … but the overwhelming military pressure of the Ansar Allah Houthis eventually [led to them taking] over the port and the city itself,” Mawry said, adding that the strategic district of Hais was also seized.

Yemen’s government forces have yet to issue an official confirmation.

Over the past 10 days, the Houthis have been trying to push west of Taiz with the objective of taking over Mocha. The Houthis were also nearing complete control of other coastal cities that sit directly along the strait as they push to take over the whole Yemeni Red Sea coast.

Mawry said the Houthis having control of the port of Mocha means they also control the Bab al-Mandeb strait. “This gives the Houthis the eyes, the ears, and the pressure to monitor international trade. Bab al-Mandeb is responsible for 10-12 percent of global trade,” he said.

Wolfgang Pusztai, a defence analyst, said seizing Mocha was a major development as it puts the Yemeni rebels in a position to cut off the road leading to Taiz, in a “very significant blow against the government”.

It also enables them to “control pretty much all of Yemen’s coast on the Red Sea” and Bab al-Mandeb, Pusztai told Al Jazeera.

He noted that while the Strait of Hormuz is about 50km (30 miles) wide, the Bab al-Mandeb strait is much narrower at about 20km (12 miles).

“This means they could control it just with artillery; they wouldn’t need to even use missiles or drones to attack ships. This would certainly be a major blow to Saudi Arabian shipping and international shipping,” the analyst said.

By Vafa Guliyeva