The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have captured the strategic port city of Mocha in Yemen, intensifying the threat to shipping routes in the Red Sea. This victory for the Houthis marks a significant shift in control over a vital global chokepoint, raising alarms about the potential impacts on oil markets and international trade. As fighting escalates, with at least 120 reported casualties in recent clashes, concerns grow that Yemen may be on the brink of a renewed civil war. The Houthis aim for full control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, further endangering Saudi oil exports and prompting military responses from the Yemeni government and its allies. The situation remains critical as civilian displacement rises and international attention focuses on the unfolding crisis.