Yemen military claims control of strategic Red Sea shipping corridor

Military forces aligned with Yemen's internationally recognized government said Thursday they have taken control of the Red Sea waterway, a crucial chokepoint for global maritime traffic. The announcement underscores intensifying competition for dominance along one of the world's most strategically important shipping routes.

The forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, made the assertion as part of broader operations in the region near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. However, statements from military officials contained discrepancies regarding whether they had also captured Mokha, a port city situated close to the strategic strait.

The Red Sea corridor serves as a critical passage for international trade between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Control of such waterways has become increasingly contested amid Yemen's ongoing conflict, which has created a power vacuum exploited by various armed groups.

Military analysts noted that command over the Red Sea approaches provides significant leverage over regional shipping and commerce. The competing claims regarding Mokha's status reflect the fluid nature of territorial control in Yemen's fractured security landscape, where multiple armed factions operate with varying degrees of coordination and territorial authority.