Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces launched a rapid offensive on Monday, reclaiming coastal areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, including the city of Mocha, from Iran-backed Houthis. With support from Saudi airstrikes, government troops reached Mocha’s outskirts, while Houthis retreated to highland regions. The Yemeni Defence Ministry announced Mocha’s capture, and key positions, including an airstrip in Dhubab, were secured, following the Houthis’ earlier seizure of these strategic locations, which had disrupted energy markets.
While the retaking of coastal areas complicates Houthi efforts to disrupt shipping routes, they remain capable of drone attacks from inland positions. Concurrently, the Houthis made gains near Taiz, reportedly cutting off a mountain road, although the Yemeni government disputed this claim. The renewed fighting has escalated a humanitarian crisis, with the UN reporting 184,000 people displaced since hostilities resumed.
The conflict, intertwined with the US-Iran rivalry, has intensified around key energy routes, raising global oil prices. Saudi Arabia, supporting Yemeni forces with air power, has targeted Houthi positions to restore safe passage in the Red Sea. The situation remains dire, particularly in Taiz, where residents face shortages of fuel and essential supplies amid ongoing hostilities.
