Four Yemeni government sources said Houthi forces are close to full control of
coastal towns along the Bab al‑Mandeb, including the historic ports of Mocha and
Dhubab, and are pushing to seize Yemen’s entire Red Sea coastline. If the narrow
strait is blocked, after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf oil
producers—particularly Saudi Arabia—would see major seaborne shipping routes
disrupted.
