Yemen’s Houthis Reportedly Seize Strategic Red Sea Port of Mokha

By Angel No Lie | KPD Online | September 11, 2026

Yemen’s Houthi movement has reportedly taken control of the strategic Red Sea port city of Mokha (Mocha), in a major escalation of the country’s long-running conflict and a development that could have serious implications for shipping through the Red Sea.

Houthi forces entered Mokha on Thursday after intense fighting with forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government. Multiple Yemeni government sources and regional media reported that the city and its port had fallen to the Houthis, although the Yemeni government had not immediately issued a formal confirmation.

Mokha is strategically important because of its proximity to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the narrow maritime passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The waterway is a major route for international trade, including energy shipments travelling between Asia, Europe and the Suez Canal.

The reported takeover comes after days of intensified fighting along Yemen’s western coast. Houthi forces have also been pushing toward other strategic locations near the strait, including Dhubab and Perim Island, raising concerns that the group could seek greater control over maritime traffic in the area.

Regional tensions escalate

The development has heightened tensions between the Houthis, Yemen’s government and Saudi Arabia. Saudi forces have carried out repeated airstrikes against Houthi positions in several Yemeni provinces, while the Houthis have launched attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia.

The conflict also has an international dimension. Reuters reported that Iranian arms and strategic advice allegedly assisted the Houthi offensive, while Tehran has denied directing the group’s military operations.

Possible impact on global shipping

The capture of Mokha has raised fresh concerns over the security of commercial vessels using the Red Sea. Any sustained disruption around Bab el-Mandeb could force shipping companies to consider longer alternative routes, potentially increasing transportation costs, delivery times and pressure on global energy markets.

Oil prices have already risen amid wider disruptions to Middle Eastern shipping and energy supplies, with Brent crude moving above $100 per barrel during the latest escalation.

Analysts warn that further Houthi advances along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline could increase the group’s ability to threaten or monitor one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.

For civilians in Yemen, the renewed fighting threatens to deepen an already severe humanitarian crisis, while internationally, the fall of Mokha adds another layer of uncertainty to an increasingly volatile Middle East.

KPD Online will continue to monitor developments in Yemen and the security situation around the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.