Yemen's War Escalation: A Wake Up Call for Global Trade The Iran backed Houthi militant group has seized Mokha, a strategic port city on the Red Sea coast, in a move that brings Tehran closer to exerting control over another critical oil chokepoint – the Bab el Mandeb Strait.
Saudi Arabia, which backs the Yemeni forces against the Houthis, views this as a major blow.
According to Hamish Kinnear, principal Middle East and North Africa analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, "a tightening grip" on the Bab el Mandeb Strait has been established.