Houthi forces, backed by Iran, captured the Yemeni port city of Al‑Mokha on the Red Sea coast after a swift assault that overwhelmed the Saudi‑backed Yemeni government’s defenses. Al‑Mokha, a key node for oil shipments and humanitarian aid, is now under Houthi control, prompting concerns over the security of maritime traffic through the Bab al‑Mandab strait. The United Nations has called for an emergency meeting of the Security Council, warning that the seizure could exacerbate the already dire humanitarian crisis in Yemen and disrupt global oil markets. Saudi Arabia has vowed to launch a “targeted” counter‑offensive, while the United States has announced additional naval patrols to safeguard commercial vessels.
On top of everything as it happens