Houthi Advance on Bab el-Mandeb Strait Escalates Regional Energy Security Fears

Yemeni government officials confirm that Iran-backed Houthi forces have seized control of the strategic Red Sea port of Mocha and reached the island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This rapid territorial expansion, which also includes the capture of the mainland town of Dhubab and the Hanish islands, places the militant group in a position to threaten one of the world's most critical maritime transit corridors. The potential for a full Houthi blockade of the strait poses a severe risk to global energy markets, particularly as Saudi Arabia has relied on this route for oil exports following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In response to the offensive, government forces have announced plans for a counter-offensive, including the deployment of air assets to reclaim territory. Meanwhile, the National Resistance Front, led by Tareq Saleh, reports that it is currently reorganizing defensive positions to challenge the Houthi presence in Mocha.