Houthis Enter Yemen’s Strategic Red Sea Port City of Mokha

Local reports said Houthi forces entered Mokha on Yemen’s western coast on Thursday after government-aligned troops withdrew south of the city. Arab48 reported that the government-aligned forces established a replacement command center south of Mokha, while Aden Al-Ghad described the move as a reorganization following Houthi breakthroughs. Mokha had been held by forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government and lies about 80 kilometers from the Bab el-Mandeb shipping chokepoint. Arab48 quoted a Yemeni military official as saying Houthi forces were advancing toward the strait, but the reported seizure could not be independently verified.