The Yemeni military says it has retaken the Red Sea port city of Mokha, near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, as Saudi-backed forces launch an offensive against the Houthis.
Live updates
Loading updates…
Key facts
- Yemeni military says it has retaken the port city of Mokha.
- Mokha lies near the Bab al-Mandab Strait on the Red Sea.
- Saudi-backed forces say the seizure marks the start of an offensive against the Houthis.
- Forces claim they have 'secured' the Red Sea waterway.
The Yemeni military says it has retaken the Red Sea port city of Mokha and ‘secured’ the nearby waterway, according to the BBC. The announcement marks what Saudi-backed forces have described as the start of a new offensive against the Houthis.
Mokha sits close to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a narrow and strategically significant passage at the southern end of the Red Sea. Control of the area carries weight for both the warring parties and for the broader security of regional shipping lanes.
Saudi-backed forces said they seized the port city at the beginning of the offensive, framing the capture as an opening move in a wider campaign against the Houthi movement, according to the BBC.
The claim that the forces have ‘secured’ the Red Sea waterway points to the significance attached to the area by those making the announcement. The BBC reported the military’s statements as the forces’ own account of events.
As with any battlefield claim, the statements originate from one side of the conflict. The details available in the reporting focus on the capture of Mokha and the launch of the offensive against the Houthis.
Why it matters
The Bab al-Mandab Strait is one of the world's most important shipping chokepoints, and control of the area around it affects the movement of goods and energy through the Red Sea. Shifts in territory in this part of Yemen can have consequences far beyond the country's borders.
Frequently asked questions
What city did Yemeni forces say they retook?
According to the BBC, Saudi-backed Yemeni forces said they seized the port city of Mokha near the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Why is Mokha's location significant?
Mokha lies near the Bab al-Mandab Strait on the Red Sea, a strategic waterway that the forces say they have 'secured.'
What does the capture represent?
Saudi-backed forces described the seizure of Mokha as the start of an offensive against the Houthis, according to the BBC.
Timeline
- Yemeni military says it has 'secured' Red Sea waterway
BBC World: Saudi-backed forces gave conflicting reports of whether they had also seized the port city of Mokha, near the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
- Yemeni military says it has retaken Mokha and 'secured' Red Sea waterway
BBC World: Saudi-backed forces say they seized the port city of Mocha, near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, at the start of an offensive against the Houthis.