The conflict in the Middle East has opened a new and potentially dangerous front after Iran-aligned Houthi forces advanced along Yemen's Red Sea coast, seizing the strategic port city of Mocha and moving toward the Hanish Islands.
The developments have raised concerns over the security of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a narrow maritime passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The waterway is one of the world's major shipping corridors for oil, fuel and other commodities.
The Houthi advance comes at a particularly sensitive time. Shipping through the nearby Strait of Hormuz has already been severely disrupted amid the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States. Before the conflict, roughly a fifth of global oil supplies moved through Hormuz, making the security of alternative routes increasingly important.
Houthis seize Mocha
Four Yemeni government military sources told Reuters that the Houthis had seized Mocha, a historic port city located roughly 80 kilometres from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The Houthis have also advanced toward the Hanish Islands, according to Yemeni government sources. Meanwhile, government forces and their allies are repositioning toward Dhubab, a location directly overlooking the strategic strait.
Control of positions around Dhubab, the island of Perim and nearby waters could provide either side with significant leverage over maritime traffic.
The Associated Press separately reported that Houthi and Yemeni officials confirmed the group's takeover of Mocha, describing it as the Houthis' most significant territorial gain since the 2022 truce.
Why Bab el-Mandeb matters
The Bab el-Mandeb is often described as a global maritime chokepoint.
Ships travelling between the Gulf and Europe can use the Red Sea and Suez Canal route, while vessels moving between Asia, the Middle East and Europe also depend on the waterway.
A serious disruption could force shipping companies to take longer routes around Africa, increasing transportation costs, delivery times and fuel consumption.
The risk becomes even more significant when another major oil chokepoint, Hormuz, is already facing disruption.
Saudi oil exports face added pressure
Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on Red Sea routes after the disruption around the Strait of Hormuz.
The Houthis have declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia and have stepped up attacks on the kingdom. Saudi authorities issued multiple emergency alerts on Thursday as the fighting intensified.
The Houthi group says its operations are defensive and has said they would stop if attacks on Yemen end. A Houthi spokesperson also said navigation remained safe for shipping other than Saudi vessels.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, backs Yemen's internationally recognised government, putting it directly on the opposite side of the conflict.
Oil prices jump
The escalation immediately affected energy markets.
Brent crude rose as much as 4% to around $105 a barrel on Thursday, according to Reuters, as traders assessed the risk of further disruptions to oil shipping.
The concern is that the market could face pressure from two major shipping chokepoints at the same time—Hormuz in the Gulf and Bab el-Mandeb at the southern end of the Red Sea.
Such a scenario could create additional supply shortages and push crude prices higher.
Iran denies controlling the Houthis
The developments have also increased pressure on Iran.
Pakistan has reportedly conveyed a Saudi warning to Tehran asking it to rein in the Houthis. An Iranian official, however, said Iran does not control the Houthi movement.
The Houthis are widely regarded as part of the Iran-backed regional network often referred to as the “Axis of Resistance”, although the precise degree of operational control exercised by Tehran over the group remains disputed.
Yemen conflict risks escalating again
The latest fighting threatens to undo the relative calm that followed the 2022 truce in Yemen.
Yemeni government forces and their allies are now repositioning along the Red Sea coast, while the Houthis seek to consolidate their territorial gains.
If fighting expands around Bab el-Mandeb, the consequences could extend far beyond Yemen—affecting oil prices, global shipping, insurance costs and supply chains.
For now, markets are watching whether the Houthis can consolidate their position around the strategic waterway and how Saudi Arabia and its allies respond.
