Yemen’s Houthis seize strategic Red Sea city of Mocha

Houthis deliver ‘significant blow’ to the Yemeni government, expand control over Bab al-Mandeb, analysts say.Yemen’s Houthis have seized the crucial Red Sea city of Mocha, expanding control over the strategic ⁠Bab al-Mandeb ⁠strait, one of the world’s most ‌important trade routes.The Iran-backed group took over Mocha on Thursday while internationally recognised government forces withdrew, sources told Al Jazeera’s Yemen correspondent, Yousef Mawry. Three Yemeni government sources also told the Reuters news agency that the city had been taken.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Back to work, not school: Yemen’s crisis forces children to drop outlist 2 of 3Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia could activate defence pact, Pakistan sayslist 3 of 3Yemen envoy warns of wider war as Houthis threaten Bab al-Mandeb Straitend of list“The Yemeni government tried to put up a fight; they called reinforcements … but the overwhelming military pressure of the Ansar Allah Houthis eventually [led to them taking] over the port and the city itself,” Mawry said, adding that the strategic district of Hais was also seized.Yemen’s government forces have yet to issue an official confirmation.Over the p...