Violence has escalated across multiple fronts in Yemen as government-aligned forces launched aerial attacks against Houthi positions near the strategic port city of Mocha. The offensive comes just days after the Iran-backed militant group seized control of the coastal city, further consolidating its dominance over the Red Sea shipping lanes.
The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, have accused Saudi Arabia of executing over 100 air strikes on Yemeni territory within a 48-hour period. Riyadh backs the internationally recognized Yemeni government, which has characterized the current combat as an existential struggle for survival.
According to Saba, the official news agency of the Yemeni government, armed forces targeted Houthi vehicles, weapons caches, and fighters near Mocha. Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, a spokesperson for the government military, confirmed strikes along the Mocha-Dhubab road, approximately 11 kilometers from the city. These operations followed Houthi captures of Mocha on Thursday and Mayyun Island, also known as Perim, on Friday, effectively tightening their grip on the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a critical chokepoint for global oil trade.
Sultan al-Arada, a member of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council and governor of Marib, stated that troops withdrawing from the western coast are regrouping in Marib with plans to rejoin the battle. Describing the losses as “painful and unfortunate” but inherent to war, al-Arada accused the Houthis of derailing peace efforts and forcing a return to conflict. He affirmed that the ultimate objective remains the recapture of the capital, Sanaa.
Meanwhile, the September Net website, affiliated with the recognized government’s army, reported widespread air raids against Houthi targets across the country, citing destroyed equipment and killed fighters without providing specific casualty figures. The Nation Shield Force, a reserve military unit, claimed its 6th Brigade downed five drones during clashes in the al-Aghbara area.
Al Jazeera correspondent Yousef Mawry reported from Sanaa that Saudi Arabia is conducting air strikes primarily to counter Houthi advances, including 129 strikes in areas recently captured by Ansar Allah. These include northern regions where Houthis are pushing toward Marib, a government stronghold, as well as military buildups in Taiz and clashes near Madhab, a key economic hub.
Mohammed al-Basha, lead analyst at the Basha Report Risk Advisory, attributed the government’s difficulties to internal division. He argued that fragmented command structures among competing factions are hindering effective resistance against the rapidly advancing Houthis.
The humanitarian toll continues to rise. The United Nations reported nearly 46,000 displacements since fighting intensified earlier this week, a figure likely to increase. Abdusattor Esoev, head of the International Organization for Migration in Yemen, noted that the loss of Mocha, a former UN operational base, has complicated aid delivery. Additionally, more than 2,000 Yemenis crossed into Djibouti in the last 24 hours, bringing the total displaced since July to approximately 76,000.
Tensions with Saudi Arabia have also surged. The Houthis recently struck civilian and economic sites in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran, injuring 73 people. On Sunday, they claimed to have hit a military base in Sharurah using ballistic missiles and drones. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree warned that further Saudi aggression would provoke larger attacks deeper inside Saudi territory.
Iranian state media and officials have praised the Houthi advances. Hossein Mohebbi, spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), described the capture of the western coast as a “divine triumph” resulting from years of steadfastness, signaling potential shifts in regional leverage.
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