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Houthis seize Mokha port 75km from Bab al-Mandeb Strait
Government forces relocate south to Dhubab as group expands control over Yemen's Red Sea coastline.
Houthis take control of Mokha port on Red Sea coast#
Houthi forces seized control of the Red Sea port city of Mokha on Thursday, four Yemeni government military sources confirmed. Government forces and their allies relocated south to Dhubab, which sits directly on the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, approximately 46km from Mokha. The port lies about 75km north of the strait and 150km south of the Houthi-held port city of Hodeidah. Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Vice Chairman Tareq Saleh confirmed the withdrawal, stating that forces including the National Resistance, Giants Brigades and Nation's Shield units had suffered casualties during several days of attacks.
Transit figures drop sharply across Bab al-Mandeb#
Ship traffic across the Bab al-Mandeb Strait fell to six vessels by 3.14pm UAE time on Thursday, down from 30 on Wednesday, 26 on Tuesday and 29 on Monday, according to preliminary data from Kpler. Of those six vessels, five exited the Red Sea carrying grain, crude, coal and fertiliser, while one entered. The strait separates Yemen from Djibouti and Eritrea and serves as the southern outlet of the Red Sea. Approximately 12 per cent of global trade has historically passed through the waterway, which connects Asia to Europe via the Red Sea and Suez Canal.
Houthis launch attacks on Hanish islands#
The group launched attacks on the strategic Red Sea islands of Hanish, government sources told Reuters. Control of Dhubab and the island of Perim is considered key to gaining hold of the strait, the sources said. Witnesses reported seeing Houthi forces entering Mokha while chanting slogans. A Yemeni military source told AFP the group was advancing towards the Bab al-Mandeb Strait after taking control of Mokha, and had also seized Zuqar Island in the southern Red Sea following rocket attacks and a ground assault using boats.
Saudi coalition conducts strikes across Yemen#
The Saudi-led coalition conducted approximately 40 to 54 air strikes in recent hours across the governorates of Taiz, Hodeidah, Al-Jawf and Marib, according to Houthi news agency Saba and coalition statements. Major General Turki Al Malki, spokesman for the coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognised government, said the coalition would deal with attacks responsibly to protect the kingdom's sovereignty and national assets. The coalition on Wednesday reported that Houthi attacks had injured at least 73 civilians in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran. More than 500 people have died since the offensive began last week, according to an AFP tally, and nearly 20,000 people have fled their homes, the International Organization for Migration reported on Tuesday.
Byline: Chokepoint Watch
Sources6 sources across 3 domains
- khaleejtimes.comKhaleej TimesFour Yemeni government military sources confirmed Houthi seizure of Mokha and government forces relocating to Dhubab
- thenationalnews.comThe NationalTareq Saleh statement on casualties and withdrawal, distance figures between Mokha and other locations
- thenationalnews.comThe NationalKpler data showing vessel transits across Bab al-Mandeb: six vessels on Thursday down from 30 on Wednesday
- al-monitor.comAl-MonitorAFP reporting on witness accounts, military source confirmation of advance toward strait, Zuqar Island seizure, casualty figures and IOM displacement data
- thenationalnews.comThe National75km distance from Mokha to Bab al-Mandeb, 12 per cent global trade figure for the strait
- al-monitor.comAl-MonitorHouthi report of 40 strikes, Saudi coalition injury figures of 73 civilians, 500 deaths since offensive began
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MENA Trade Monitor is published by Arabian Media Network. Pieces are produced by the Chokepoint Watch with AI-assisted synthesis of the cited sources and automated verification against the network's editorial policy. Every piece carries a desk rather than a reporter. Corrections are recorded on the piece and on the corrections page.
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