In early September, the Iran-aligned Houthi militia launched a rapid military offensive along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, capturing approximately 1,800 square miles of territory near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. The advance, which unfolded over the course of a night of intense fighting on September 9-10, resulted in a significant setback for the Yemeni government forces and their allies, prompting a renewed cycle of conflict in an already destabilized region.
The Bab al-Mandab Strait is a crucial maritime chokepoint through which about 10 percent of global trade passes, making control of the area geopolitically consequential. Yemeni government forces, led in part by Lt. Gen. Tareq Saleh—nephew of Yemen’s former authoritarian leader and commander of a faction allied with the government—had been defending the coast, including the port city of Mokha. However, internal divisions, limited foreign support, and logistical challenges undermined their defensive efforts.
In the weeks before the offensive, General Saleh reportedly warned Saudi and U.S. officials of the Houthis’ intentions to push toward the strait, emphasizing the strategic importance of the area. Despite these alerts, no decisive intervention materialized before the Houthis initiated missile and drone attacks on Mokha in early August, followed by a ground offensive on September 3. Over several days, the Houthis advanced on multiple fronts, culminating in the collapse of government forces the night of September 9 as communications broke down and soldiers retreated in disarray from their positions near Mokha.
The Houthi militia’s victory marked a substantial territorial gain, leaving government forces exposed and retreating south to Aden. Clashes reportedly resulted in significant casualties among General Saleh’s troops, with at least 500 killed and more than 1,500 wounded. The precise Houthi losses remain undisclosed. Following the defeat, General Saleh and some commanders relocated to Riyadh to regroup and coordinate responses with Saudi allies. Meanwhile, some of his fighters found themselves isolated and barred from entering Aden by other allied factions, leading to severe hardship.
The triumph also reflects the Houthis’ evolving military capabilities, which include the use of drones and missiles, and underscores their expanded autonomy following a fragile truce in 2022. The group’s leadership has framed the offensive as part of a broader struggle to “liberate Yemen from occupation,” dismissing their adversaries as mercenaries aligned with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, which has led a coalition to restore Yemen’s internationally recognized government since 2015, began an air campaign targeting Houthi positions shortly after the territorial losses and reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating the militia’s presence near the strait, with U.S. intelligence and targeting support.
The escalation comes amid heightened tensions linked to broader regional conflicts involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The Houthis’ advance disrupted fragile peace efforts and contributed to a surge in displacement within Yemen, where more than 180,000 people have fled fighting in recent weeks. Yemeni government leader Rashad al-Alimi declared full-scale war against the Houthis shortly after the loss of the Red Sea coast.
Analysts note the fragmentation and weakness of Yemen’s government forces, compounded by internal rivalries and inconsistent support from foreign sponsors such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This lack of cohesion contributed to the rapid government collapse on the coast, raising questions about the effectiveness of any foreign-backed military campaign against the Houthis. As Yemen faces renewed warfare, civilians confront increasing hardship in a country already devastated by years of conflict, poverty, and humanitarian crises.