Houthi rebels seize Yemen’s Red Sea coast with Iranian support, threatening global shipping chokepoint

Yemen’s Houthi rebels just pulled off one of the most consequential military operations in the Middle East this year, capturing the strategic Red Sea port city of Mocha and extending their grip across much of Yemen’s western coastline. The offensive, backed by Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps advisers providing real-time tactical guidance, covered roughly 115 km and swallowed approximately 5,400 square kilometers of territory in under 48 hours. How the offensive unfolded The Houthi ground campaign launched around September 3, 2026, and culminated with Mocha’s fall on September 10. The speed of the advance caught Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces off guard, with multiple positions abandoned as air support requests reportedly went unanswered. IRGC advisers played what observers describe as the most direct Iranian intervention since Yemen’s civil war began in 2014. Their role went beyond general strategic counsel: they provided tactical guidance and intelligence that enabled the Houthis to exploit gaps in government defensive lines with unusual precision. A Houthi spokesperson claimed the group expelled Saudi-backed forces from six districts during the operation. The advance wasn...