Yemen’s Houthi movement has seized control of the strategic Red Sea port city of Mokha from Saudi-backed pro-government forces, according to military sources and eyewitnesses. The capture marks a significant escalation in the conflict, bringing the Iran-aligned group just 75 kilometers from the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital maritime corridor connecting Asia and Europe.
Footage broadcast on Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV appeared to show armed fighters and armored vehicles in the city on September 10, 2026. While there was no immediate formal confirmation of the takeover from Houthi leadership, the group’s Supreme Political Council stated that clashes had ceased in western coastal districts following the “expulsion of Saudi enemy mobilizations.” Meanwhile, Tarek Salah, leader of the pro-government National Resistance Forces, confirmed he had relocated his command center to a “safe location” and accused Iranian-backed Houthi forces of planning the offensive.
The fall of Mokha has triggered chaos among residents. Witness described panic spreading through the area as families fled without warning. Many displaced persons are heading east toward Aden, the temporary capital where Yemen’s internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council is based. One woman told BBC Arabic that her family escaped with nothing, stating, “Everything was destroyed within an hour. They didn’t even give us a chance or warn us beforehand.”
In addition to the land grab, a Yemeni military source informed AFP that Houthi forces also captured Zuqar Island, located approximately 80 kilometers northwest of Mokha, after a rocket barrage and ground assault using boats.
The conflict has had broader regional implications. Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands displaced since the Houthi offensive began a week ago. The Saudi-led coalition has responded with air strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in western Yemen, while the Houthis have retaliated with missiles and drones targeting cities and oil facilities in southern Saudi Arabia. On Tuesday, Houthi attacks injured 73 civilians and caused fires at Saudi oil sites, leading to a temporary halt in operations. The Saudis stated they would respond to recent Houthi missile and drone strikes on cities including Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Jazan.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea reported that Saudi warplanes conducted 64 strikes across the western provinces of Taiz, Hudaydah, Marib, and Jawf over a 24-hour period. The group maintains that navigation in the Red Sea remains safe and poses no threat to international shipping, but reiterated that an embargo on Saudi vessels remains in effect. This marks a dramatic unraveling of the informal ceasefire that began four years ago, which started to collapse in July when the Houthis announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia.
Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Presidential Leadership Council, urged Arab states and other nations to assist in protecting Yemen’s coasts and restoring state control. The ongoing violence continues to contribute to a surge in global oil prices as tensions around key trade routes intensify.
Oil prices are already spiking. If they close the strait, we are all going to feel it at the pump very soon.
Is the US really going to intervene again? The US Navy has been hesitant, but this escalation changes the strategic calculus significantly.
The human cost is staggering. Families fleeing with nothing, displaced en masse. We cannot ignore the suffering of Yemeni civilians.
Just 75km from Bab al-Mandab now. This is terrifying for global shipping and everyone relying on Red Sea routes.