Houthis seize key Yemen port as shipping threat intensifies

Houthi forces took control of the Yemeni port of Mocha on Thursday, extending their reach along the Red Sea coast at the narrowest approach to the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

Shipping industry sources said several operators had already suspended southbound transits pending clarification, and that war-risk premiums for the Gulf of Aden were being requoted within hours of the reports.

Markets

Brent crude settled at $107.63 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate at $102.48, both extending gains driven by the wider disruption to Gulf and Red Sea routes. Container rates on Asia-Europe services have risen for a fourth consecutive week as vessels reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, adding roughly ten days to voyages.

Why the strait matters

Bab el-Mandeb is the southern gate of the Red Sea and the Suez route. A sustained closure forces traffic onto the Cape route, lengthening supply chains for European importers and raising fuel and crew costs across the industry.

What is not confirmed

The extent of Houthi control inside Mocha itself, the condition of port infrastructure, and any casualty figures could not be independently verified this evening. Claims by all parties to the conflict should be treated with caution.

Compiled from Reuters and Associated Press wire reporting and from shipping industry advisories. Verification cut-off 22:30 BST on 10 September 2026. Market prices are as quoted at the London close and will move.