The Islamist Houthi movement's military offensive is now targeting the important Bab al-Mandab Strait - known as the gateway to the Red Sea - which provides an alternative shipping route to the conflict-ridden and closed Strait of Hormuz.
The armed Houthi movement already controls large parts of northwestern Yemen and the de facto capital, Sanaa.
Want to control the coast
The capture of Mocha is confirmed by Yemeni military sources, who also say the advance is continuing. This is confirmed by independent observers:
"If (the Houthis) take Mocha, they will control virtually the entire Red Sea coast of Yemen. That means it will be easier to control the Bab al-Mandab," security analyst Wolfgang Pusztai told Al Jazeera.
The internationally recognized government is based in Aden in southern Yemen, but often operates in exile because of the security situation. However, opposition to the Houthi movement comes mainly from Saudi Arabia, which has previously attacked targets in Yemen on a large scale.
150,000 dead
According to Huthi News, Saudi Arabia has carried out 64 airstrikes against targets in Yemen in the past 24 hours. The attacks are aimed at areas controlled by the Islamist Houthi movement.
The information comes from a spokesperson for the military wing of the Houthi movement on Thursday.
The civil war, which has recently been at a standstill, has previously claimed around 150,000 lives in a country of over 40 million people. A fragile ceasefire was reached in 2022 between the Houthi movement and the government - which in turn is supported by Saudi Arabia.
The escalation of the conflict contributed to a sharp increase in oil prices on Thursday.
