Iran-backed Houthi rebels take strategic port city in Yemen, raising threat to Red Sea shipping

AI Summary

Iran-backed Houthi rebels captured the strategic Yemeni port city of Mokha, which is near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial maritime chokepoint for global shipping. This raises concerns about the security of Red Sea shipping lanes that handle a significant share of global goods.

The Iran-backed Houthi rebel group on Thursday took over Yemen’s port city of Mokha, an area vital to controlling shipping through the Red Sea, Houthi and Yemeni officials said. Mokha is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a waterway that connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and through which about 12% of the world’s goods are typically shipped. FRANCE 24's Nick Rushworth reports.