A F Up of Epic Proportions on Yemen’s Red Sea Coast
Sandego.net – An A f up of epic proportions is how critics describe the rapid collapse of defenses along Yemen’s western coast, where Iran-backed Houthi forces seized Mocha and then captured Perim Island near the entrance to the Red Sea. The swift advance has raised fresh doubts about Saudi-backed military support and intensified concern over the wider regional confrontation involving Iran and the United States.
Yemeni military officials appealed for air support on Thursday morning as Houthi fighters advanced toward Mocha. Saudi Arabia, the principal ally of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, was asked to intervene while the offensive accelerated.
“The Houthis committed everything they had – waves upon waves of fighters … along with their available ballistic missiles and weapons.”
A senior Yemeni figure connected to the country’s military forces said requests were also made to US Central Command. American personnel reportedly said they were monitoring events and that Saudi air support was expected, but assistance did not arrive before Mocha fell.
“But the air support never came. And Mocha has now fallen.”
Perim Island Raises the Stakes at Bab al-Mandeb
Houthi forces captured Perim Island on Friday. The island sits at the mouth of the Red Sea and divides the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a narrow passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
The strait is vital to international trade because cargo bound for the Suez Canal, including oil and commercial goods, passes through it. Disruption can affect shipping routes, insurance costs and energy prices, even though the Bab al-Mandeb is less central to global oil flows than the Strait of Hormuz.
Its importance has grown during the Iran war, with Saudi Arabia redirecting some exports through the route to avoid Hormuz. Iranian influence over both waterways could give Tehran greater leverage over maritime commerce at a sensitive moment for the global economy.
Amr Al-Bidh, the leading official in Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, said the Houthis may not need sophisticated equipment to endanger shipping through Bab al-Mandeb. The STC, which seeks an independent southern Yemeni state, has fought both Houthi forces and Saudi-supported groups.
“They don’t need to use advanced weapons to close Bab al-Mandeb. They can just use a cannon on a car.”
Al-Bidh said territorial control close to the strait gives the Houthis substantial military and negotiating leverage without requiring their most advanced weapons.
US and Saudi Responses Face Scrutiny
The pace of the Houthi operation has prompted criticism from regional partners. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke twice with President Donald Trump on Thursday and pushed for US strikes against Houthi forces, according to a person familiar with the conversations. Trump decided not to intervene.
The White House said protecting core US security interests, including freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, remained its priority. It said regional partners were expected to lead local security efforts and that Washington remained in contact with Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
Critics argue that the lack of Saudi airstrikes during the battle for Mocha was the central failure. One regional figure said the episode reflected delayed decisions and political disagreements in Riyadh despite frequent reports on the Houthi advance.
“The failure this time is not with the Yemenis. It’s a disaster made in (Washington) DC and Riyadh.”
“There was not one air strike throughout the day yesterday (by Saudi support forces), although there were minute-by-minute updates.”
The criticism has been summarized as an A f up of epic proportions involving Saudi and American decision-making. But Mohammed al-Basha, a Washington-based adviser who has worked with US government and private-sector organizations on Arabian Peninsula risks, said Yemen’s divided anti-Houthi coalition also played a major role.
“This goes back to a deeper problem in the anti-Houthi coalition. There is no political cohesion.”
Al-Basha said the Houthi push toward the western coast had been visible in advance, but Yemeni forces lacked unified leadership and an effective command structure. The events around Mocha and Perim Island underline how an A f up of epic proportions can combine military failures, political divisions and strategic uncertainty around one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
FAQ: What the Houthi Advance Means for Yemen and Shipping
Why is Bab al-Mandeb important? The strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serves ships traveling between the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal. Any threat to passage can delay cargo, increase insurance costs and affect energy markets.
Why does Perim Island matter? Perim Island lies near the narrow entrance to the Red Sea. Control of nearby territory can give armed forces a stronger position from which to threaten or monitor vessels using Bab al-Mandeb.
What does the advance mean for Yemen? The captures of Mocha and Perim Island strengthen the Houthis’ position on the western coast while exposing continued weaknesses in the coalition opposing them.
