Control of Yemen's Red Sea port of Hodeidah gives the Iran-backed Houthis a strategically important position not far from the Bab Al Mandeb strait. ReutersShow caption: Control of Yemen's Red Sea port of Hodeidah gives the Iran-b…Houthi capture could have implications well beyond fighting in Yemen and add another threat to global shipping
The Houthi seizure of Mokha gives the Iran-backed militia a strategically vital position approximately 75km from the critical Bab Al Mandeb strait.
Mokha's significance lies primarily in its geography, not port capacity, removing a key logistics base from Yemen's internationally recognised government.
About 12 per cent of global trade historically passes through Bab Al Mandeb, making Houthi advances in the area a serious concern for international shipping.
With the Strait of Hormuz already severely constrained, Bab Al Mandeb has grown increasingly vital for energy and trade flows between the Gulf and Suez Canal.
