Yemeni Forces Capture Mokha, Advance Toward Bab al-Mandab

Yemeni armed forces have reportedly seized the strategic Red Sea port city of Mokha, marking a major setback for Saudi-backed forces and bringing Yemeni troops closer to the vital Bab al-Mandab Strait. Saudi-backed media and military sources acknowledged the withdrawal of their fighters from the coastal city, while the reported advance represents another significant territorial gain along Yemen’s western coastline.

According to Reuters, retreating Saudi-backed fighters said Yemeni forces had also launched attacks against the strategically located Hanish Islands in the Red Sea. The developments could further strengthen Yemeni control over maritime approaches to Bab al-Mandab, one of the world’s most important shipping chokepoints. The capture of Mokha followed an earlier offensive in which Yemeni forces reportedly took control of the districts of Hays and al-Khawkhah in Hudaydah province.

Hudaydah Governor Abdullah Atifi said Yemeni army units had cleared Saudi-backed forces from the two districts, paving the way for the advance toward Mokha. Earlier in the day, Yemeni forces had also reportedly captured the coastal fishing town of Yakhtul in southwestern Ta’izz province after intense clashes with Saudi-sponsored fighters. The rapid sequence of advances signals a significant shift in the military balance along Yemen’s western coast.