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.

Yemeni government, Iranian and regional sources alleged that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards helped direct the offensive. However, an Iranian official described the decision to capture Mocha as a Houthi initiative. Iran publicly denies directing the group’s military operations, and the extent of its involvement remains disputed.

Two Yemeni officials said the government requested additional Saudi air support as Houthi forces advanced. They said Saudi assistance remained focused on logistics, weapons and intelligence, with limited airstrikes on northern fronts. Saudi officials had not responded to requests for comment at the time of the report, while the prospects of government forces retaking Mocha remained uncertain.