Yemen forces push Houthis from Bab el-Mandeb coast, claim Mocha capture

Saudi-backed Yemeni forces said they had reached Mocha after advancing near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The escalation widened regional security concerns as the Houthis claimed strikes inside Saudi Arabia and displacement mounted.Pro-Saudi-backed Yemeni government fighters sit in the back of a vehicle during what government forces say was an advance against the Iran-backed Houthis, near Dhubab, Taiz Governorate, Yemen ( Photo- Reuters)Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces made a rapid advance along the Red Sea coast on Monday, pushing Iran-backed Houthi fighters from several positions around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and advancing towards the key port city of Mocha.Yemen's Defence Ministry said Mocha had fallen to government forces, while four government sources said troops backed by heavy Saudi airstrikes had reached the city's outskirts. Houthi fighters were reportedly retreating towards the highlands.The claims could not be independently verified. The Houthis rejected the government's account as baseless.The government forces had already captured key positions near the mouth of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, including an airstrip in the Dhubab district. The area is strategically important because the strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is a major route for global shipping and energy supplies. The Saudi-led coalition said its naval forces also carried out a military operation in Yemen's Red Sea governorate of Hodeidah.In response, the Houthis claimed they had attacked several strategic targets in Saudi Arabia, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, an Aramco refinery in Rabigh, Abha International Airport and a military base in Khamis Mushait. The claims could not be immediately verified, and Saudi Arabia and Aramco did not immediately comment. The Houthis also threatened to target traffic in Saudi airspace.The latest fighting has intensified concerns over disruptions to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, coming alongside Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz. While control of the coastal area could strengthen the Yemeni government's position, the Houthis could still launch missiles and drones against shipping from other areas under their control.Fighting has also intensified around Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city. Government military sources said the Houthis had captured sections of a mountain road, potentially cutting off government forces in the city. One government source disputed the claim.The Houthis also reportedly advanced into parts of Taiz province and damaged a culvert on the Taiz-Aden road, disrupting a key route. The conflicting accounts could not be independently verified.The conflict has erupted across several fronts since Yemen's dormant civil war reignited amid the wider US-Iran conflict. The Houthis have controlled Sanaa and large parts of Yemen since 2014 and have sought to expand their control towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.The escalation has prompted Saudi Arabia and its allies to strengthen their military posture. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan agreed at an emergency meeting in Riyadh on Monday to rapidly deploy military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia under the Mecca defence pact.The three countries also condemned what they described as attempted attacks targeting Mecca and Medina, along with continued Houthi attacks on Saudi cities and civilian and economic infrastructure.The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed in August, provides for collective deterrence and treats an armed attack against any of the three countries as an attack against all.Saudi Arabia said it had struck hundreds of targets in Yemen to provide air cover for forces operating near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Yemen's government said it had launched attacks on several fronts, including in Sanaa province.The Houthi-run health ministry said two people were killed and seven wounded in strikes on the Sanhan and Sa'wan districts.The renewed fighting has further worsened Yemen's humanitarian crisis. The UN migration agency said 184,000 people had been displaced since the war resumed.Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi on Sunday vowed to continue fighting "until the country is liberated from the grip of the terrorist militia".- Ends