Houthis intensify fighting in attempt to reach Yemen’s port of Mocha
In Yemen, the Houthis have intensified fighting in recent days near the western part of Taiz province, seeking to advance toward the port city of Mocha. As the Jerusalem Post reports, citing The New York Times and local security sources, control over areas near Mocha could strengthen their influence over shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, an important maritime route at the entrance to the Red Sea.
Fighting near Taiz
Colonel Abdul Basit al-Baher, an officer in Yemen’s government forces in the region, told the NYT that the Houthis were trying to reach Mocha. The city is located less than 50 miles from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Another NYT source in Taiz security structures, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed reports of heavy clashes. According to him, the Houthis are also trying to cut off supply routes to Mocha.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Attacks on the port and shipping
In July, the Houthis announced a blockade of Saudi oil tankers passing through the Red Sea, through which most of Saudi Arabia’s oil exports are transported. Since then, they have carried out missile and drone attacks on ships passing through the sea, as well as on Saudi facilities from northern Yemen.
In early August, the port of Mocha was struck by several missiles and was forced to temporarily suspend operations after more than 25 missiles hit it over several days. The Houthis then said they had targeted weapons stockpiles and warships of forces backed by Saudi Arabia. They described their actions as preventive and accused the governments of Saudi Arabia and Yemen of preparing a ground offensive.
The significance of Mocha
Yemeni analysts cited by the NYT believe that access to Mocha would give the Houthis more opportunities to influence ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Until this week, most clashes involving the Houthis, according to the publication, had been limited to missile and drone strikes without large-scale ground fighting.
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