On Thursday, Houthi rebels in Yemen took control of the strategic port city of Mocha on the Red Sea and began advancing towards the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a Yemeni military source reported. Witnesses reported seeing Houthi troops entering the city, chanting slogans "Death to America, death to Israel." The city, which had been under the control of Yemen's internationally recognized government, has been under continuous attack since early August: over 25 rockets were fired at it in just a few days, forcing the port to suspend operations. The Yemeni government has not yet publicly confirmed the loss of Mocha. The Houthis control about a third of Yemen's territory, including the most densely populated areas of the country. They are now seeking to take control of the narrow maritime route connecting Asia and Europe through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, potentially disrupting traffic through it. Along with the Strait of Hormuz, the cargo flows through Bab-el-Mandeb account for a quarter of daily oil and petroleum product supplies and nearly a third of global maritime shipping. Reports indicate that this summer, the Houthis discussed with Tehran the introduction of a fee for safe passage through the strait, which appears to be an attempt to further strike at the global economy. The Yemeni government has repeatedly warned of the Houthis' plans to take control of this maritime passage, the name of which translates from Arabic as "Gates of Tears." Major General Sadiq Dwaid, a representative of the government-linked National Resistance, which controls areas adjacent to the strait, previously warned that the siege of Mocha by the Houthis is a key maneuver that allows them to establish a foothold on the Red Sea coast. "By continuing attacks on Mocha and its port, Houthi militia seeks to secure a foothold on the coast of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and turn this area into something similar to what we see in the Strait of Hormuz," Major General Dwaid stated in mid-August. The coastal city of Dhubab and Perim Island, a rocky volcanic island in the middle of the strait that divides it into two shipping channels, are now considered key military targets for the Houthis. ## ## Fighting Continues to Escalate The Houthis, officially known as "Ansar Allah," launched a large-scale offensive against government forces supported by Saudi Arabia last week. They also struck Saudi Arabian territory, resulting in dozens of injuries. In response, Riyadh began daily bombings of areas under Houthi control. On Thursday, the Houthis reported that Saudi forces carried out about 40 airstrikes as part of a new series of attacks. "Enemy Saudi Air Force has carried out about 40 strikes in the provinces of Taiz, Hodeidah, Al-Jawf, and Marib in recent hours," the Houthi-controlled agency Saba reported.
