Yemen’s Houthi movement has reportedly captured the strategic Red Sea port city of Mokha after days of heavy fighting with forces supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government. According to military sources and residents, Houthi fighters entered Mokha after fierce clashes with pro-government forces on Wednesday night. The takeover has caused widespread fear among residents, with many families leaving the city and heading toward safer areas. Mokha is an important location because of its position on Yemen’s western coast. The city is about 75 kilometres (46 miles) from the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a narrow waterway connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The strait is one of the world’s important shipping routes, linking trade between Asia and Europe. Residents said the fighting was intense and happened with little warning. One resident told BBC Arabic that panic spread through the city as people tried to escape. Another resident said Houthi fighters were patrolling the streets on Thursday while government offices and many shops remained closed. Many families reportedly fled with very few belongings. Some residents said their homes were damaged or destroyed during the fighting. Displaced families have been travelling east toward Aden, where Yemen’s internationally recognised government and Presidential Leadership Council are based. The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, have not immediately confirmed that they captured Mokha. However, their Supreme Political Council said fighting had stopped in western coastal areas following what it described as the expulsion of Saudi-backed forces. Tarek Salah, the leader of the pro-government National Resistance Forces, also said he had moved his command centre on Yemen’s west coast to a safer location. He said his forces had suffered heavy losses while fighting what he described as an Iranian-supported Houthi offensive. The fighting has also spread beyond Mokha. A Yemeni military source told AFP that Houthi forces had captured Zuqar Island in the Red Sea. The island is located around 80 kilometres northwest of Mokha. According to the source, the Houthis used rockets and boats during the assault. The developments have increased concerns about the security of shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthis said they did not intend to threaten international shipping, but they repeated their warning that Saudi-linked vessels could be targeted. The group has accused Saudi Arabia of supporting attacks and restrictions against areas under Houthi control. In recent days, the Houthis have launched missiles and drones toward southern Saudi Arabia, including cities and energy facilities. Saudi authorities said Houthi attacks earlier this week injured 73 civilians and caused fires at several oil facilities. The damage temporarily affected operations at some facilities. The Houthis said their attacks were retaliation for Saudi air strikes against areas controlled by them. Saudi Arabia has supported Yemen’s government in its long-running conflict with the Houthis. The civil war has continued for more than a decade and has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. A four-year informal ceasefire had reduced the intensity of the conflict, but tensions have recently increased. The Houthis announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia in July and began targeting Saudi airports, oil facilities and tankers. Saudi Arabia and its allies have responded with air strikes against Houthi-controlled areas. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea claimed that Saudi aircraft carried out dozens of strikes across several western Yemeni provinces. Saudi authorities have not immediately responded to all of the claims. The latest escalation is also affecting global energy markets. Concerns about attacks on oil facilities and shipping routes have contributed to rising oil prices, with crude oil recently reaching around $100 a barrel. The capture of Mokha could therefore have consequences beyond Yemen. If fighting continues and the conflict moves closer to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, international shipping could face greater risks. Any major disruption in the Red Sea could increase transportation costs and put additional pressure on global energy and commodity markets. For people in Yemen, however, the immediate concern is safety. Thousands have reportedly been displaced by the latest fighting, while residents of Mokha fear further clashes. The situation remains fluid, and the full extent of Houthi control over Mokha and nearby areas has not yet been independently confirmed. Further fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces could increase the humanitarian crisis and raise the risk of a wider regional confrontation.