Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels seize strategic Red Sea port city of Mocha

BREAKING: Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels seize the strategic Red Sea port city of Mocha as their offensive against Saudi-backed government forces intensifies, with Saudi Arabia launching dozens of airstrikes over the past 24 hours.

Houthi fighters seized the Red Sea port of Mocha on Thursday.

Witnesses told AFP the fighters marched into the city chanting death to America, death to Israel. Saudi Arabia answered with dozens of airstrikes over the past 24 hours, and you can see the strikes here. The Houthis also hit Saudi territory, wounding dozens of people.

A Yemeni military source says the fighters are now advancing on the Bab al-Mandab strait, the gateway linking Asia to Europe through the Suez Canal, and this satellite view shows the coastline they're closing in on. They've already taken Zuqar Island by boat assault. Tarek Saleh, whose forces held Mocha, says he's moved his command centre to regroup, and blames an offensive planned and supported by Iran.

With Hormuz already blockaded, WTI crossed a hundred dollars this week. If Bab al-Mandab falls too, both of the world's key oil chokepoints sit in Iran-aligned hands.

This is Sara White, reporting for HIT.