Yemen government forces retake key area near Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Government forces say they have seized Mocha; continued advances could weaken Houthi control over a vital Red Sea shipping route and raise risks for shipping and energy markets.
TAIPEI — Yemen’s conflict has escalated again, with Saudi-backed government forces recognized by the international community launching a major counteroffensive in recent days around the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait. According to Reuters, the forces are seeking to retake strategic positions recently captured by the Houthi forces. The waterway, which links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, is one of the world’s key routes for maritime trade and energy transportation.
Reuters reported that Yemen’s government forces, supported by Saudi air power, have advanced rapidly toward the Mocha area. Yemen’s Defense Ministry said government forces had taken control of Mocha. If the situation continues to develop in this direction, it could weaken the Houthis’ grip on a major Red Sea shipping route.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait lies between the Arabian Peninsula and Africa and serves as a critical chokepoint for vessels traveling between the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. For global supply chains, a prolonged threat of military conflict in the waterway could force shipping companies to adjust routes and take longer detours, driving up fuel, insurance and transport costs.
The latest escalation in Yemen is also intertwined with the broader energy and security situation in the Middle East. The Houthis have recently controlled the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and parts of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, and have claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks on targets inside Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed those claims at the time.
Reuters said the Houthis have controlled Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and large parts of the country’s northwest since 2014. The group has continued to strengthen its military capabilities in recent years and receives support from Iran. Yemen’s government said the counteroffensive would continue, with the aim of retaking areas under Houthi control.
Security along the Red Sea route is of particular concern to Asian markets. Asia relies heavily on maritime transport for energy, raw materials and consumer goods trade. If security risks persist in the Red Sea and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, vessel diversions and shipping insurance costs could rise further, eventually feeding through to commodity prices and corporate logistics expenses.
For Taiwan, the conflict may be unfolding in the Middle East, but its knock-on effects on global energy and shipping markets remain worth watching. Taiwan relies heavily on imported energy. If conflict in the Middle East affects the Red Sea and other key energy routes at the same time, it could increase volatility in international oil and gas prices and transport costs, putting pressure on Taiwan’s energy spending, manufacturing costs and consumer prices.
The situation in Yemen remains fluid. Whether the Houthis can launch a fresh counterattack and whether shipping around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait can return to normal will be key issues for markets to monitor.