Houthi forces seize strategic Red Sea port of Mokha, escalating regional conflict and impacting global shipping

Houthi forces captured the strategic Red Sea port city of Mokha on Thursday, September 10, 2026, marking their biggest territorial gain since the 2022 truce. This move places the Iran-backed group closer to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital global shipping route. The escalation, which involved Iranian-supplied weapons, has contributed to a rise in Brent crude prices above $105 a barrel and further disrupted Red Sea export routes, which had become more critical after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz.