Houthis take al-Mukha
The Houthis have established control over the Yemeni port city of al-Mukha, gaining additional leverage over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait — the southern exit from the Red Sea and one of the world's key shipping routes.
Reuters reports this.
The Houthis entered the conflict on Iran's side, attacking Israel on March 28. At the same time, until July they largely maintained a lull, after which they announced a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia, and in September they stepped up attacks on the south of the kingdom. Saudi Arabia began relying more on the route through the Red Sea after the conflict with Iran effectively closed off the Strait of Hormuz.
Against this backdrop, Yemeni government forces and their allies are redeploying south along the Red Sea coast toward Dhubab, located directly at the strait opposite the island of Perim. Control over Dhubab and the island is of key importance for holding the strait.
