Houthis seize Mokha port, military sources and witnesses say

Yemen’s Houthis have seized Mokha from Saudi-backed pro-government forces, military sources and witnesses say. Their accounts describe a change of control in the strategic port city on the Red Sea.

Residents said Houthi fighters entered Mokha after fierce fighting with pro-government forces on Wednesday night. The clashes prompted many families to leave their homes as the fighters moved into the city.

The capture puts the Iran-backed group 75 kilometers, or 46 miles, from the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The strait forms the southern gateway to a trade route connecting Asia and Europe.

The Houthis said they posed no threat to international shipping while repeating their threat against Saudi vessels. Saudi Arabia has relied on Red Sea oil exports since the U.S. and Israel’s war effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz.