Strategic Port of Mokha Falls to Houthi Forces as Red Sea Tensions and Attacks on Saudi Arabia Escalate

Iran-backed Houthi militants have successfully seized the strategic port city of Mokha on Yemen’s western coast following intense fighting with pro-government forces, significantly expanding their territorial control along the Red Sea and the vital Bab Al Mandeb shipping route.

A Yemeni official speaking to The National stated, "Resistance groups have left Mokha and are now deployed to Dhubab (46km) south of the city," referencing the retreating pro-government units.

In an official statement, Tareq Saleh, Vice Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, acknowledged that government forces—including the National Resistance, Giants Brigades, Nation’s Shield forces, and units from Taiz—sustained casualties and injuries during several days of heavy Houthi assaults. He added, "We ordered the formation of an alternative command centre in a safe location to regroup the forces in consultation with the Arab coalition command and the Presidential Leadership Council." Yemeni government sources also confirmed the loss of Mokha to Reuters.

Mokha, located approximately 150km south of the Houthi-held port city of Hodeidah, has long served as a crucial operational base for government forces stationed along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. This strategic capture grants the Houthis control over another vital chokepoint overlooking one of the world's most critical maritime corridors.

The development coincides with a sharp escalation in clashes between rebels and government forces across multiple fronts in Yemen, alongside intensified Houthi drone and missile strikes directed at Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping lanes in alignment with Iran.

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence issued emergency advisories urging citizens to remain calm and adhere to official directives. These Houthi attacks persisted despite a diplomatic warning transmitted by Saudi Arabia to Tehran via Pakistan in an effort to curb the militant group.

Maj Gen Turki Al Malki, spokesman for the coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognised government, reported that the Iran-backed militia targeted the cities of Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Jazan with ballistic missiles and drones on Wednesday. The resulting strikes injured at least 73 civilians across Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran. In response, the coalition launched 54 air strikes across Yemen, according to Houthi reports.

Maj Gen Al Malki emphasized that the coalition would respond responsibly to safeguard the kingdom's sovereignty, national assets, civilians, and civilian infrastructure under the principle of self-defence as defined by international law.

According to sources from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Iran cited by Reuters, Pakistan delivered the Saudi warning to Tehran on Tuesday. Bound by a mutual defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey—which dictates that an attack on one is an attack on all three—Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that while Islamabad favored a diplomatic approach, "unprovoked aggression or spillover … into Saudi Arabia will definitely make this agreement operational." On Thursday, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesman reiterated Islamabad's condemnation of the "reprehensible" Houthi attacks, reaffirming unwavering support for Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and security.

An Iranian official acknowledged the receipt of the Saudi message, maintaining that Tehran "does not control the Houthis." However, two Iranian sources informed Reuters that Tehran had directed the Houthis to launch attacks against Saudi Arabia last week while promising additional funding and weaponry.

Despite extensive Iranian backing since capturing Sanaa in 2014, the Houthis have consistently sought to present themselves as partners rather than proxies of Tehran. Observers note they operate with greater autonomy and recklessness compared to groups like Lebanon's Hezbollah, which functions under direct Iranian command.

Allison Minor, former US deputy special envoy for Yemen, previously told The National, "The Houthis have their own ambitions. The Houthis are more dangerous. They have at times been more reckless in pursuing their vision than Tehran."

The United Nations has repeatedly warned that expanding Houthi offensives threaten to widen the conflict and derail prospects for a lasting political resolution. Although a 2022 truce between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis had largely succeeded in reducing large-scale hostilities, the latest multi-front campaign marked by fighting in Yemen, maritime disruptions in the Red Sea, and direct assaults on Saudi territory has plunged the region into its most violent phase in four years. Meanwhile, the Yemeni government recently declared its intent to maintain military engagement against the Houthis until the group is completely eradicated.