Iran-backed Houthis seize key port in Yemen, advance on another vital oil choke point
The Iran-backed Houthis have seized control of Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Mokha, according to The Associated Press, citing Yemeni and Houthi officials; CNBC could not independently confirm the report. Mokha is located about 75 kilometers north of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and analysts called its capture a major blow to Saudi Arabia. The advance raises the possibility of a tighter Houthi grip on the Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint.
Why it matters: This matters for the theme of oil choke points, as the Houthi advance toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could disrupt Red Sea shipping and global oil flows.