Houthis Reportedly Seize Yemeni Red Sea Port of Mokha

Why it matters locally: Disruptions to international shipping lanes, like those potentially caused by the Houthi control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, could impact global supply chains affecting goods imported and exported through Rhode Island ports.

Houthi forces have reportedly captured the Red Sea port city of Mokha in Yemen. This action would bring the group closer to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a waterway critical for international shipping. Mokha, situated on Yemen's western coast, holds strategic importance due to its proximity to the Bab al-Mandab. This narrow strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Controlling territory near the Bab al-Mandab Strait could impact maritime traffic through the region. The strait serves as a key passage for global trade, including oil shipments. Reports on the port's capture emerged, indicating a shift in control within the ongoing conflict in Yemen.