Houthi capture of Mokha opens a more dangerous phase in Yemen's war
Houthi forces captured the strategic Red Sea port of Mokha from pro-government forces. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg said four years of relative calm had ended and the conflict had entered a more dangerous phase. The port's proximity to Bab el-Mandeb raises the significance of the development for shipping beyond Yemen's borders.
Geopolitics··Midday
Mokha changes hands
Houthi forces captured Mokha on Yemen's western coast from pro-government forces after days of fighting. The Associated Press attributed the takeover to Houthi and Yemeni officials, while the United Nations Security Council meeting summary treated the port's capture as the threshold of a new phase in the conflict. Government-aligned National Resistance, Giants Brigades and Nation's Shield units withdrew. Deaths and injuries were reported in the fighting, but neither source provided a definitive total.[2], [1]
A port near Bab el-Mandeb
Mokha lies about 75-80 km from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The Associated Press reported that roughly 12 per cent of global trade normally passes through this waterway. Capturing the port gives the Houthis another strategic point on Yemen's western coast. That geography means the battlefield gain is being watched not only for its effect inside Yemen, but also for the security of the narrow passage used by commercial shipping.[1], [2]
The end of four years of relative calm
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg told the Security Council that four years of relative calm had ended and Yemen had entered a more dangerous phase of war. He said fighting intensified on several front lines during the previous 24 hours after attacks in Taiz and Hudaydah earlier in September. According to the Associated Press, Grundberg warned that the consequences of the new phase would not remain within Yemen's borders if left unchecked. Saudi Arabia's representative said his country would take necessary measures to deter Houthi attacks.[1], [2]
