Houthis seize key Yemeni port, close in on Red Sea chokepoint

According to Reuters, Yemeni government sources reported that Iran-backed Houthi rebels have seized the historic port of Mocha in southwestern Yemen. This advance brings the group closer to controlling the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital passage for oil and commodities moving between Asia and Europe. Yemeni military sources also reported that Houthi forces are closing in on the coastal area of Dhubab. These developments come as fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces has intensified significantly in recent days, raising fears of a return to full-scale war following the 2022 UN-brokered truce. The Houthis recently launched large-scale attacks against oil infrastructure and military bases in southern Saudi Arabia, which the Saudi-led coalition stated left dozens wounded. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Pakistan has conveyed a warning from Saudi Arabia to Tehran, urging it to rein in the Houthis. A senior Iranian official claimed that Tehran does not control the group, but two Iranian sources told Reuters that Tehran had instructed the Houthis last week to attack Saudi Arabia and promised additional funding and weapons. Amid these tensions, Brent crude prices rose above $100 a barrel for the first time since July.