Houthi forces seized Yemen's port city of Mocha on September 10, 2026, expanding control over the Red Sea coast and Bab al-Mandeb Strait [1]. Three Yemeni government sources and Al Jazeera's correspondent confirmed the takeover as government forces withdrew tactically [1]. The Houthi-affiliated Saba news agency said clashes on the western coast had halted after expelling government reinforcements [1]. Defence analyst Wolfgang Pusztai told Al Jazeera the Houthis could control the strait with artillery alone, without missiles or drones [1]. The Houthis denied threatening shipping, with spokesman Salam calling the offensive a national operation and affirming navigation remains safe and uninterrupted, while maintaining their ban on Saudi ships [1]. UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg warned Yemen faces its gravest risk of full-scale war since the 2022 truce; the UNSC held an emergency session called by Bahrain and the UK [1]. Yemen's Foreign Minister sent a message to the UNSC calling for firm international action; council head al-Alimi said Bab al-Mandeb cannot become another Strait of Hormuz [1]. Pakistan warned Iran to restrain the Houthis and said the Mecca Defence Alliance pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey could become operational if attacks persist [1]. Saudi analyst Abdulaziz Alghashian described the Houthi advance as concerning but not overly surprising, attributing it to discombobulation of anti-Houthi forces rather than strength [1]. The Hormuz closure picture remains contested — straits.live reports Day 194 closed with 6 transits on Sep 6 vs 85/day typical, while the US reports vessels still transiting — but this is carried from prior reporting, not new evidence [1]. War-risk insurance prices tanker transit at 40x pre-crisis; Brent $108.14 [1]. Whether the Mocha seizure directly reduces oil flow depends on Saudi response and Houthi follow-through on safe-shipping claims [1].