‘A f***-up of epic proportions’: Blame game begins after Iran-backed Houthis’ lightning advance down Red Sea coast
A F Up of Epic Proportions Shakes Yemen’s Red Sea Coast
Earthguardiansonline.com – A f up of epic proportions is how a regional source described the rapid Houthi advance that saw the Iran-backed group capture Mocha and then seize Perim Island within roughly 36 hours. The setbacks have transformed the military situation along Yemen’s western coast and raised alarms over shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Mocha fell after Yemeni commanders appealed for air support during the Houthi assault on Thursday, according to a senior source attached to Yemeni military forces. Saudi military backing was expected but did not arrive before Houthi fighters secured the port city.
“The Houthis committed everything they had – waves upon waves of fighters … along with their available ballistic missiles and weapons.”
The source said Yemeni forces also contacted US Central Command during the battle. Officials indicated they were monitoring events while Saudi support was anticipated, but no airstrikes came.
“But the air support never came. And Mocha has now fallen.”
Perim Island Raises Pressure on Key Shipping Route
The following day, Houthi fighters captured Perim Island in the middle of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The island separates the passage into two channels, giving it major strategic importance for commercial shipping and military movement between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The Bab al-Mandeb is a critical maritime corridor for energy supplies, container goods and vessels traveling toward the Suez Canal. Its importance has grown during the Iran war, as Saudi Arabia redirected some exports through the Red Sea route to avoid the Strait of Hormuz.
A f up of epic proportions in the battle for Mocha could therefore have consequences beyond Yemen’s coastline. Iran’s influence near Hormuz and a strengthened Houthi position close to Bab al-Mandeb place pressure on two of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.
Amr Al-Bidh, a senior official in Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, said the Houthis may not need advanced weapons to disrupt traffic through the strait. The STC seeks an independent southern Yemeni state and has fought both Houthi forces and Saudi-backed groups during Yemen’s conflict.
“They don’t need to use advanced weapons to close Bab al-Mandeb. They can just use a cannon on a car.”
Al-Bidh said control near the passage offers the Houthis leverage even without sophisticated military systems.
“It’s a leverage that they have without using advanced weapons. And they will keep it.”
Criticism Targets Washington and Riyadh
The speed of Mocha’s fall has triggered criticism of the Saudi and American response. One regional source said the failure was not caused by Yemeni frontline forces, but by decisions made in Washington and Riyadh.
“The failure this time is not with the Yemenis. It’s a disaster made in (Washington) DC and Riyadh.”
The source cited political disputes and slow decision-making in Riyadh despite frequent battlefield updates. Describing the lack of intervention, the source called it a Saudi-American f up of epic proportions.
“There was not one air strike throughout the day yesterday (by Saudi support forces), although there were minute-by-minute updates.”
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with US President Donald Trump twice on Thursday and urged military action against the Houthis, according to a person familiar with the discussions. That person said Trump declined to intervene.
The White House said the United States remained focused on core national-security priorities, including freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. It said Washington continued to communicate with Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s internationally recognized government about regional stability.
Divisions Complicate the Anti-Houthi Response
Not all observers attribute the collapse solely to missing air support. Mohammed al-Basha, an adviser to US government and private-sector organizations on Arabian Peninsula risks, said deep divisions within Yemen’s anti-Houthi coalition have weakened its ability to respond.
“This goes back to a deeper problem in the anti-Houthi coalition. There is no political cohesion.”
For critics of the response, the loss of Mocha and Perim Island remains an A f up of epic proportions because it combined a fast Houthi offensive with longstanding weaknesses among the forces opposing them.
FAQ: What Does the Houthi Advance Mean for Yemen?
Why is Bab al-Mandeb important? The strait links the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and is used by commercial ships transporting oil, energy supplies and containerized cargo between Asia, Europe and other markets.
Why does Perim Island matter? Perim Island sits in the middle of Bab al-Mandeb and divides the strait into two channels, making it strategically important for monitoring and potentially disrupting maritime traffic.
What led to Mocha’s fall? Yemeni commanders requested air assistance during the Houthi assault, but a senior Yemeni military source said the anticipated Saudi air support did not arrive before the city was captured.
