Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement has taken full control of the Red Sea port city of Mocha and released prisoners from local jails, according to reports. The group also seized islands in the Red Sea and is closing in on Perim Island at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, threatening a strategic shipping choke point. A Yemeni general whose forces withdrew from Mocha acknowledged a 'heavy price' as oil prices surged above $105 a barrel.
The Iran-backed Houthi movement has fully consolidated control over the Red Sea port city of Mocha, with reports confirming the group released prisoners from local jails during the takeover. Oil prices surged above $105 a barrel as the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait came within closer reach of Houthi forces.
The development follows earlier reports this evening (18:14 Jerusalem) that the Houthis had captured Mocha's port and were advancing south along the coast. Minutes later, the group released documentation from the city, its port, and airport via Telegram channels, corroborating the seizure. A Yemeni general whose forces withdrew from Mocha acknowledged the military reversal, saying "we paid a heavy price."
The Houthis are also closing in on Perim Island at the narrowest point of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. At 18:34 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that the group had advanced onto the Hanish Islands and pushed government-aligned forces toward Dhubab, positioning them within striking distance of Perim. Control of the island would allow the group to threaten a critical global shipping artery, a move that has already driven oil prices above $105 a barrel, according to market data.
The broader context, as The Zioneer has extensively reported, includes months of Houthi escalation targeting Israel and its allies — including the UAE and Saudi Arabia — as part of the Iranian-led "Axis of Resistance." The group has leveraged its control of Yemen's coastline to disrupt international maritime trade, and this latest advance marks a major tactical gain for the Iran-backed movement.
No verified report confirms that Perim Island itself has fallen. The extent of Houthi control over the Hanish Islands and the Dhubab coastal area remains to be independently verified.
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