Houthis seize key city on Red Sea, advance towards Bab el-Mandeb, Pg18

Key Highlights:

• Yemen's Houthis seized control of the strategic Red Sea port city of Mokha on Thursday.
• The group is advancing towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical global maritime chokepoint.
• This escalation is part of a renewed offensive in Yemen, which began in early September 2026.
• The conflict is linked to the broader "war on Iran" that commenced with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran in late February 2026.

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Detailed Insights:

• The Houthis, an Iran-backed group, launched a large-scale offensive against Yemeni government forces, who are supported by Saudi Arabia.
• The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a vital maritime corridor connecting Asia to Europe via the Red Sea and Suez Canal, crucial for global oil and natural gas shipments.
• The Houthis also seized Zuqar Island in the southern Red Sea, further consolidating their control over key maritime areas.
• The renewed fighting in Yemen, which relapsed into war in July 2026, has resulted in over 500 deaths and displaced nearly 20,000 people.
• Saudi Arabia reported Houthi ballistic missile and drone attacks on its southern cities, while Houthis reported Saudi airstrikes in Yemeni governorates such as Taiz, Hodeida, Al-Jawf, and Marib.
• The "war on Iran" refers to Operation Epic Fury, a series of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28, 2026, targeting military infrastructure and leadership.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Houthis: An Iran-backed Zaidi Shia Islamist political and military organization in Yemen.
• Bab el-Mandeb Strait: A narrow waterway between Yemen and Djibouti/Eritrea, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
• Chokepoint: A narrow channel along a global sea route that is critical for maritime trade and energy security.
• Saudi-led coalition: A military alliance formed in 2015 to intervene in the Yemeni Civil War in support of the Yemeni government.