Houthis seize Mocha, threaten Red Sea transit and push oil higher
Capture of Mocha and advance toward the Hanish islands heighten risks for passage through Bab el‑Mandeb and lifted Brent above $106 a barrel.
Houthi fighters backed by Iran have captured the Yemeni port city of Mocha and pushed along the Red Sea coast toward the strategic Hanish islands, a move that increases the danger to shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
Red Sea transit and energy routes under pressure
The area is one of the world’s most important maritime corridors for moving oil and other goods between the Persian Gulf, Asia and Europe. The Houthis’ advance has raised fresh concerns about disruptions to energy shipments.
Global oil markets reacted immediately: Brent rose more than 5% on Thursday to 106.60 dollars per barrel, while U.S. WTI climbed to 101.21 dollars. The escalation is seen as a potential trigger for further upward pressure on world oil prices.
Saudi Arabia is particularly exposed because it has increasingly relied on the Red Sea to export crude after traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was severely constrained. Tracking data showed that only seven vessels transited Hormuz on Wednesday.
The Houthis said that "navigation through the Red Sea is safe for all vessels except for Saudi ones," and Yemeni government forces are reported to be regrouping their positions near Bab el-Mandeb.
The developments add a new layer of risk for commercial shipping and energy supply chains that link the Gulf with global markets.
Photo: press material from the event
