Red Sea Tensions Rise as Houthis Seize Mocha Port
REPORTER:
Houthi militants have seized the Red Sea port of Mocha and attacked several islands nearby.
The port’s seizure gives the group, who are allies of Iran, leverage over a key shipping route. This could further add pressure to a global economy already strained by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Houthis’ move came hours after US President Donald Trump said he expected the war in the Middle East to end after the US midterm elections in November.
Houthi-run Al Masirah TV released footage on Thursday said to show Houthi fighters at Yemen's Red Sea port of Mocha.
The video showed an armoured military vehicle parked inside a warehouse, with a voice heard off-screen saying: "This is Mocha port."
The location was verified by the buildings, electricity pole, and paint, which matched satellite imagery. The date when the video was filmed could not be verified. However, military sources said Houthi militants seized control of Yemen's port city of Mocha on Thursday.
Military sources said the Iran-aligned group seized control of Yemen's port city of Mocha on Thursday, posing a further threat to global energy supplies hours after President Donald Trump said he expected the war to end after mid-term elections.
Four Yemeni government military sources said the Houthis had gained further leverage over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the southern outlet of the Red Sea and one of the world's most important shipping routes, and were launching attacks on the strategic islands of Hanish.
Later, two Yemeni government sources reported the Houthis had reached the islands.
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