SAUDI-backed Yemeni government forces have launched a rapid offensive to retake coastal territory near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, capturing the key port city of Mocha and driving Iran-aligned Houthi fighters into the surrounding highlands.
The military push, supported by heavy Saudi air strikes, aims to loosen the Houthis' control over vital Red Sea maritime corridors, which has severely disrupted global energy markets following the broader spillover of the US-Iran conflict.
Reuters reported on Tuesday that in response to the losing ground along the coast, Houthi forces claimed responsibility for long-range missile and drone strikes targeting critical Saudi Arabian infrastructure, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, an Aramco oil refinery in Rabigh, Abha International Airport, and the Khamis Mushait military base.
Despite losing coastal positions around Mocha, Houthi fighters executed counter-advances near the inland city of Taiz, damaging key transport routes and surrounding government forces in the region.
The rapid escalation of hostilities has intensified a severe humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations migration agency reporting that over 184,000 individuals have been displaced since fighting resumed.
Following an emergency summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan activated the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, committing to the rapid deployment of military personnel and strategic capabilities inside the Kingdom to counter ongoing threats to regional security and critical infrastructure. - October 6, 2026
