Yemeni forces regain Red Sea port city from Houthi militants in major offensive

Yemeni government forces said Monday they have reclaimed the port city of Mokha from Iran-backed Houthis. The military announced a strategic offensive on Sanaa, which the militant group has controlled since 2014. Houthi forces reportedly denied the territorial loss, and independent verification remains unavailable.

The city sits about 75 kilometers (46 miles) north of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical Red Sea shipping lane. The Houthis seized Mokha in early September, a move that significantly raised fears of broader regional control over vital oil routes.

Regional powers moved to counter the shifting frontline. Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan agreed on Monday to activate deterrence measures and rapidly deploy troops to support Riyadh. Defense ministers from the three nations finalized the pact during an emergency meeting in Riyadh, citing a unified stance against Houthi attacks.

Violence escalated across the region alongside the ground offensive. Two airports in Saudi Arabia faced attacks on Monday evening, causing limited structural damage. Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed that facilities in Jazan and Najran were hit, leaving three people injured.

Energy markets reacted to the expanding conflict, which traces back to U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. Brent crude futures for December traded 0.3% lower at $100.12 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate contracts with November expiry stood nearly 0.9% lower at $88.63. "While there are growing signs of a recovery in oil flows from the Persian Gulf, the market remains nervous about potential supply disruptions from the region. This is keeping prices well-supported for now," ING energy strategists wrote in a Tuesday research note.