Yemen's war, dormant for years, has reignited with maritime consequences. Iran-backed Houthis seized the strategic Red Sea port city of Mokha on Thursday and, according to a Yemeni military source, are advancing towards the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait after taking control of Mokha.
The group, which controls large parts of northwest Yemen, launched a large-scale offensive last week against Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia and launched attacks on Saudi territory. Witnesses reported Houthi forces entering Mokha chanting "death to America, death to Israel" - a direct link to the wider war on Iran that began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran in late February.
They also seized Zuqar Island in the southern Red Sea after rocket attacks and a ground assault using boats transporting fighters. The waterway, which links Asia to Europe via Suez, has gained importance since Iran blocked Strait of Hormuz. Any Houthi control near Bab el-Mandeb - meaning Gate of Tears, through which 12% of global trade passes - threatens shipping again.
Saudi Arabia responded with around 40 strikes in Taiz, Hodeida, Al-Jawf, Marib, Houthi news agency Saba said. On Wednesday, the Saudi coalition said anti-government fighters fired ballistic missiles and drones at several cities in southern Saudi Arabia.
Context: Yemen relapsed into war in July after years of relative calm punctured by sporadic violence. Last week, fighting left more than 500 dead and forced nearly 20,000 to flee, IOM said Tuesday. The Houthis triggered return to hostilities in July when they let an Iranian plane land in defiance of Saudi control of Yemeni airspace.
This is no longer just a civil war. It is an Iran-Saudi-US-Israel chessboard. Mokha's fall gives Houthis leverage over Red Sea shipping - the same leverage they used in 2023-24 to disrupt trade in solidarity with Gaza. For India, which saw export costs spike then, the advance towards Bab el-Mandeb is a direct economic threat.