Yemen Houthis: Mokha Port Control Threatens Red Sea Shipping

• Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized Yemen's strategic port city of Mokha on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
• Mokha is located approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital chokepoint for global shipping.
• This takeover represents the Houthis' largest territorial gain since a 2022 truce in Yemen's civil war.
• Shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb has decreased by about 60% since Houthi attacks began in late 2023.
• The Houthis' actions, including increased attacks and a blockade on Saudi Arabia, contribute to Red Sea shipping disruption and align with Iranian interests.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, is a critical maritime chokepoint through which roughly 12% of global goods typically transit.

The Houthi rebel group, backed by Iran, recently seized control of Mokha, a crucial port city in Yemen. This development, confirmed by both Houthi officials and a commander from Yemen's government-allied National Resistance Forces, occurred on Thursday, September 10, 2026. Mokha's strategic location, approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, positions it as a key point for influencing Red Sea shipping.

This takeover marks the most significant territorial gain for the Houthis since a 2022 truce aimed at ending a civil war that has persisted for over a decade. The renewed Houthi control over such a vital coastal area carries substantial Mokha port control implications, particularly for maritime security in one of the world's busiest waterways. The broader conflict has seen the Houthis increase attacks against Yemen's internationally recognized government and declare a blockade on Saudi Arabia over the past summer.

Reports from Mokha residents paint a picture of immediate change following the takeover. Eyewitnesses, including Amin al-Mohammdi and Mohamed Salem, described Houthi forces visible throughout the city, with markets shuttered and roads leading from the west coast closed. Furthermore, three doctors, speaking anonymously due to safety concerns, reported fleeing a local hospital after it was seized by the Houthi forces, with other residents reportedly moving south towards Aden, a city under the control of Saudi-backed forces.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, is a critical maritime chokepoint through which roughly 12% of global goods typically transit. Its importance for international oil supplies has intensified, especially as shipping through the nearby Strait of Hormuz has faced impediments from Iran during its ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. The Houthi Mokha port Red Sea shipping control directly impacts this vital corridor.

Since late 2023, when Houthi forces began targeting vessels, shipping activity through the Bab el-Mandeb has plummeted by approximately 60%, leading many companies to abandon the route. Although there was a brief increase in transit earlier this year as Saudi Arabia explored alternatives to Hormuz, redirecting oil shipments via pipeline to the Red Sea port at Yanbu, these efforts were curtailed by renewed Houthi threats, according to Lloyd's List Intelligence. This highlights the persistent Yemen Houthi maritime threat.

The Houthis' actions, while driven by their conflict with Saudi Arabia, also align with Iran's strategic interests. By escalating pressure on a U.S.-allied oil producer, Tehran gains leverage in its own confrontation with the United States. This dynamic contributes significantly to the Red Sea shipping disruption and elevates global supply chain risk Yemen poses.

The recent seizure of Mokha follows a series of Houthi advances in Yemen's western province of Taiz, where the port city is situated. Both Ahmed al-Mawazi of the Yemeni armed forces and Abdel Kader al-Sharabi, a member of the Saudi-backed forces, confirmed that rebels had secured the al-Shaqira area. This region is crucial as an important supply route, linking the provincial capital of Taiz and other inland territories to Yemen’s western coast.

In response to these incursions, Yemeni government forces have initiated airstrikes, targeting Houthi reinforcements positioned west of Taiz. Conversely, Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV claimed that Saudi-backed forces conducted 40 airstrikes in recent hours across several provinces, including Taiz, Jawf, Hodeida, and Marib, though this claim could not be independently verified by The Associated Press, and government forces offered no immediate comment.

The Houthis have been engaged in conflict with Yemen's government since 2014, when they descended from their mountainous strongholds to seize significant portions of northern and central Yemen, prompting Saudi Arabia's intervention. A return to full-scale civil war, exacerbated by the current Bab el-Mandeb Strait security concerns, would be catastrophic for the Yemeni populace and could severely impact global energy supplies, underscoring the profound regional instability.

Lawyers and compliance officers should immediately reassess maritime security risks and potential supply chain disruptions for clients whose operations or supply routes traverse the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This includes advising on increased insurance costs, re-routing strategies, and force majeure considerations for existing contracts.

Source: Original reporting via The Associated Press