Yemen’s Houthi forces captured the Red Sea port city of Mocha on September 10 , according to Houthi and Yemeni officials. The takeover followed an advance along Yemen’s western coast amid fighting with forces supporting the internationally recognized government.

Mocha lies near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait , which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden . Its capture gives the Houthis a stronger position near a major route for commercial shipping . Control of the city does not establish control over all vessel movements through the strait .