Houthis Capture Red Sea Port, Threatening Critical Oil Shipping Corridor
Source Summary
Yemen's Houthis captured the Red Sea port of Mocha on Thursday, gaining control of the approach to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. The strait carries 6.2 million barrels of oil and refined products daily, plus approximately 80% of LNG shipped north to Europe. Houthi attacks in 2024 made these waters unsafe for shipping and caused Suez Canal revenue to fall more than 60%, costing Egypt $7 billion.
Why it matters
Control of Bab al-Mandeb threatens one of the world's most critical energy shipping routes, affecting global oil prices and Europe's LNG supply.
