According to reports from Yemen, Houthi forces have fully captured the strategic Red Sea port city of Mocha and freed prisoners held in its detention facilities. The prisoner release is the latest development in a sweeping Houthi offensive that has placed the group within 30 kilometers of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint.
The Zioneer reported earlier Thursday that the Iran-backed Houthi movement had captured the port city of Mocha, seizing over 2,000 square kilometers of territory from Saudi-backed forces. A subsequent report detailed the capture of the Al-Omari military base and the Zubayr airport runway, positioning Houthi forces just 30 km from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
This latest report, citing Yemeni sources, adds that the Houthis have released prisoners who were held in the city's jails. The release appears to be part of the consolidation of control following the rapid takeover.
The advance marks a significant escalation in the Houthi campaign against the internationally recognized Yemeni government and its Saudi-led coalition allies. The group's tightening grip on the Bab el-Mandeb threatens one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, through which an estimated 10% of global maritime trade transits.
No independent confirmation of the prisoner release is available, and casualty figures from the offensive remain unverified.
4 developments
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