Houthis seize Yemen's strategic port city of Mocha along Red Sea coast

Yemen's Ansar Allah Houthis have seized the strategic port city of Mocha on the Red Sea coast, less than 80 kilometres from the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Fighting between the Iran-backed group and internationally recognised government forces has escalated over the past week. Reports confirm that the city and its strategic port have fallen to the Houthis, with Houthi vehicles seen in the city. The group is now only about 50 miles from Bab al-Mandeb. The capture followed the fall of the Khalid bin Walid military base and the al-Wazi'iyah district, paving the way for the Houthis to enter Mocha with little resistance. The capture gives the Houthis a new revenue stream, direct access to Bab al-Mandeb and the ability to monitor shipping through the southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and routes towards the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. The takeover also cuts three main supply lines for the Yemeni government, including the road linking Mocha and Taiz and supply routes to forces in the south, while ending Saudi supplies through the port.

Al Jazeera's Yousef Mawry reports from Sanaa.

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