Yemen's Houthis seized control of the strategic Red Sea port city of Mocha on Thursday, with witnesses telling AFP of fighters marching on the area chanting "death to America, death to Israel".
The Houthis, who control large parts of northwest Yemen, launched a large-scale offensive last week against Yemeni government forces, who are backed by Saudi Arabia.
They also launched attacks on Saudi territory that left dozens of people wounded, in a conflict that has reignited during the Middle East war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.
A Yemeni military source told AFP on Thursday that the Iran-backed Houthis were advancing towards the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait "after having taken control of Mocha".
The waterway, which links Asia to Europe via the Red Sea and Suez Canal, has gained importance as a transit route since the start of the wider Middle East war, which saw Iran blockade the Strait of Hormuz.
