Houthi fighters seize Mocha after rapid night assault in Yemen
Houthi forces captured the port city of Mocha overnight, pushing back a coalition of government militias that had held the line for a week.
The Houthi movement opened a major offensive on 3 September against areas under Yemen’s internationally recognised government in the Hodesaid districts of Hays and Al-Khawkha and the Taiz districts of Jabal Habashi, Maqbana, Mowza’a and Al-Wazeyaha, a corridor linking the highlands to the Red Sea coast. Government troops initially stopped the attacks, holding the line for almost a week and preventing a push toward the port of Mocha.
However, on Wednesday night the Houthis launched a swift, coordinated strike from southern Hodeidah and western Taiz, seizing Mocha in one night. The defending forces—including the National Resistance Forces, Nation’s Shield Forces and the Giants Brigades (Al-Amaliqah)—were forced to retreat, falling back toward Bab al-Mandab and the neighboring Lahj governorate.
Why it matters
The loss of Mocha threatens the main supply route for the Yemeni government and could shift the balance of power in the civil war.
How this story developed
- Sep 8 Houthi strikes wound dozens in Saudi cities as coalition vows retaliation
- Sep 11 Iranian and Saudi diplomats held talks aimed at reducing regional insecurity.
- Sep 11 Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged President Donald Trump to authorize U.S. strikes against the Houthis, but the United States limited its role to intelligence and targeting assistance.
- Sep 11 The Iran-backed Houthis captured the Yemeni side of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, Mayyun Island and the Hanish islands, consolidating control over the vital Red Sea corridor.
- Sep 11 Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said the pipeline was targeted by several drones launched from Iraq, causing human injuries and damage.
- Sep 11 New satellite data now show a smoke plume along the pipeline route.
- Sep 12 Satellite imagery shows a massive smoke plume about 100 km long and sustained thermal hotspots along the East-West Pipeline corridor southeast of Medina.
- Sep 12 Saudi Arabia closed its oil pipeline after drone attacks traced to Iraq.
- Sep 12 Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said navigation in the Red Sea was safe except for Saudi ships.
- Sep 12 Experts noted Iran now influences both the Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab chokepoints.
- Sep 13 Houthis announced a drone and missile strike on Saudi Sharurah military base.
- Sep 13 Iraq seized a drone‑launching platform suspected of being used in the strike and dismissed the Maysan provincial commander.
- Sep 13 Saudi east‑west oil pipeline shut after a drone strike.
- Sep 13 Houthis allege Saudi forces carried out more than 50 attacks on their targets in a single day.
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