What happened

Associated Press reported that Houthi forces seized the city of Mokha and its Red Sea port on 10 September after a rapid ground offensive displaced forces aligned with Yemen's internationally recognised government. The takeover was confirmed to AP by both a commander aligned with Yemen's government and a member of the Houthis' political bureau. Residents told AP that Houthi forces were visible throughout the city and that markets were shuttered, while doctors and other residents fled south. Yemeni government forces subsequently launched airstrikes against Houthi reinforcements west of Taiz, according to residents cited by AP. On 11 September, the internationally recognised government's army announced that it was bombing a designated 'kill box' near Mokha as part of a counteroffensive; the reviewed announcement did not establish impact locations, casualties or damage. Houthi-run Al-Masirah separately claimed 40 airstrikes across Taiz, Jawf, Hodeida and Marib, but AP could not independently verify that figure. The broadcaster also reported that Saudi Arabia struck Mokha's airport; AP said there were no immediate reports of damage or deaths, and Saudi Arabia had not commented. Mokha is roughly 80 kilometres from the Bab el-Mandeb strait, through which about 12 percent of global trade normally passes. Axios later reported, citing two U.S. officials, that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked President Donald Trump for direct U.S. strikes against the Houthis as their advance threatened the Red Sea route; Trump reportedly declined while the United States offered intelligence and targeting support. That diplomatic report is context, not evidence of a new U.S. attack. The reviewed reporting did not establish that the port's energy infrastructure was struck, quantify damage, report a closure or confirm an interruption to commercial shipping. This is therefore recorded as a developing control and maritime-security change, with the counterstrikes and airport strike carefully retained as attributed follow-up reports.

When cited sources give different casualty, damage or spill figures for this event, they’re reported side by side above rather than merged into one number. See how confidence levels work.