Overview
- Houthi fighters captured the Red Sea port of Mocha and then moved south to occupy Perim (Mayyun) island and other western coastal positions, actions that multiple outlets reported on Friday.
- Those advances put the Houthi in effective control of the Bab el‑Mandeb strait and the group has said navigation will remain open for all vessels except Saudi ships and tankers.
- Riyadh has pressed the United States for military action but the U.S. has declined direct strikes and instead sent CENTCOM coordination and intelligence support, including a visit by Admiral Brad Cooper to Saudi Arabia.
- The takeover threatens supply routes that carry significant trade and oil because Saudi Arabia rerouted much of its exports through the strait after Hormuz closed, and any sustained disruption would force longer, costlier voyages via Suez or around Africa.
- The offensive has caused acute local harm with the International Organization for Migration reporting about 46,000 displaced people, and reporting from multiple outlets including Reuters links recent Houthi gains to material support and arms shipments from Iran.