Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have captured Yemen’s port city of Mokha from Saudi-backed government forces, potentially opening up a second theater in the war between the U.S. and Iran.
asserted
rebels → align → U.S.
The capture of Mokha marks the Houthis’ largest territorial gain since a 2022 cease-fire in Yemen that paused major fighting between the group and Yemen’s government.
asserted
that → mark → group
The Houthis also disrupted shipping in 2024 in response to Israel’s occupation and bombardment of Gaza, which prompted the U.S. and U.K. to carry out deadly strikes on Yemen.
asserted
which → disrupt → Yemen
The Houthis swept south along the Red Sea coast before taking Mokha on Thursday and subsequently reached the Hanish archipelago, Yemeni government sources told Reuters.
asserted
sources → sweep → Reuters
A Yemeni commander and a member of the Houthis’ political bureau separately confirmed the Houthi capture of Mokha to the Associated Press.
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commander → confirm → Press
Government forces retreated south toward Dhubab, which overlooks Bab el-Mandeb.
asserted
which → retreat → Mandeb
Yemen’s government has reportedly launched airstrikes west of Taiz and warned civilians to avoid roads between Taiz and Mokha.
uncertain
government → launch → Taiz
Houthi-owned Al-Masirah TV reported that Saudi-backed forces launched 40 airstrikes on the provinces of Taiz, Jawf, Hodeida, and Marib.
asserted
forces → own → Taiz
Observers and Yemeni residents fear the escalation could renew an all-out civil war in Yemen.
uncertain
escalation → fear → Yemen
“This renewed war should alarm us all,” Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special envoy for Yemen, said at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Thursday.
asserted
Grundberg → renew → Thursday
“It effectively marks the end of the relative calm that Yemen has experienced for over four years since the U.N.-brokered truce.”
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Yemen → mark → truce
Capturing the southwestern port also strengthens the Houthis’ ability to threaten shipping through Bab el-Mandeb, a waterway through which around 12% of global trade normally passes.
asserted
% → capture → trade
The strait, which lies between Yemen, Djibouti and Eritrea and links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, has become more important since Iran militarized the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for the U.S. and Israel’s Feb. 28 strikes.
asserted
Iran → lie → strikes
The Houthis reportedly received direct guidance and weapons from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
uncertain
Houthis → receive → Corps
Iran reportedly told the Houthis last week to escalate their attacks on Saudi Arabia.
uncertain
Iran → tell → Arabia
Iran publicly maintains that the Houthis are “not a proxy.”
asserted
Houthis → maintain → ?
The country’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday that the conflict in Yemen must be resolved through dialogue instead of military action.
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conflict → say → dialogue
It also invoked what it called the “expansionism of the Israeli regime with U.S. complicity.”
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it → invoke → complicity
Mohammed Abdulsalam, a spokesperson for the Houthis, posted on social media that the group will stop targeting Saudi ships when the “aggression” against Yemen ends.
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aggression → post → Yemen
A Houthi-run body in Yemen that communicates with commercial shipping companies said navigation through Bab el-Mandeb remained safe, except for Saudi vessels.
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navigation → run → vessels
The advance comes as Tehran has sought new ways to counter Washington’s economic pressure campaign and military attacks.
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Tehran → come → campaign
A stronger Houthi position along the Red Sea coast could further constrain global energy supplies, raise shipping and insurance costs, and push up oil prices.
uncertain
position → constrain → prices
Even if the Houthis are acting in their own interest, Iran could gain significant leverage over Washington in conjunction with continued pressure on traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
uncertain
Iran → act → Hormuz
The capture of Mokha came hours after President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested that Iran’s government was prolonging the war in an attempt to affect Republican prospects in the U.S. midterm elections in November.
uncertain
government → come → November
He nevertheless insisted Iran is on the verge of collapse and that the war will end “immediately after” the vote.
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war → insist → vote
From Mokha, which lies around 80 km north of Bab el-Mandeb, the Houthis have a stronger position to disrupt shipping, particularly targeting vessels travelling to and from Saudi Arabia, which is the world’s biggest crude exporter and a close U.S. ally.
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which → lie → vessels
Saudi Arabia has routed more oil to its Red Sea port of Yanbu after the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
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Arabia → rout → Hormuz
But the Houthis declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia on July 20 and began attacking Saudi shipping and energy infrastructure.
asserted
Houthis → declare → shipping
Saudi crude exports have fallen to their lowest level in 13 years, with production dropping 23% from July to August.
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production → fall → August
Overall vessel traffic through Bab el-Mandeb fell around 24% in the week following the July blockade.
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traffic → fall → blockade
The kingdom has responded with airstrikes in Yemen’s north and warned Iran to rein in the group.
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kingdom → respond → group
It has supplied its Yemeni allies with arms, intelligence, and logistical assistance.
asserted
It → supply → arms
The Saudi government is reportedly reticent to escalate its fight with the Houthis and has so far resisted requests for a broader air campaign in the south of Yemen and along the Red Sea coast.
uncertain
government → escalate → coast
The advance could also force the U.S. to devote military resources towards protecting a second maritime chokepoint and assisting its ally, potentially complicating efforts to limit or swiftly end U.S. involvement in the Middle East.
uncertain
advance → force → East
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