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How Houthi forces seized Yemen's Red Sea coast and sparked a new war
- •The Houthis seized Yemen's Red Sea coast in a chaotic single night after months of developing conditions and military buildup.
- •Yemeni commander Lieutenant General Tareq Saleh had warned Saudi Arabia and the United States of the impending attack, but received little support.
- •Internal divisions between rival government factions allowed the Houthis to exploit weaknesses and advance rapidly toward the coast.
- •The sudden collapse of government defenses handed the Houthis roughly 1,800 square miles of territory and control near the vital Bab al-Mandab Strait.
- •Saudi Arabia has started bombing Houthi positions to help government forces recover lost ground, threatening a renewed humanitarian disaster for civilians.
Key Questions Answered
The Houthis launched a large ground offensive on September 3, 2026, backed by missiles and drones, exploiting distrust and divisions between government factions. Government defenses collapsed on the night of September 9 after five days of resistance, handing the Houthis the entire Red Sea coast and Mokha.
The Bab al-Mandab Strait is a crucial waterway through which roughly 10 percent of global trade passes. Controlling this strategic chokepoint gives the Houthis increased leverage to disrupt international shipping and threaten Saudi interests.
Yemeni government leader Rashad al-Alimi declared full-scale war to reclaim all territory lost over the past 12 years. Saudi Arabia has resumed bombing Houthi positions with intelligence and targeting assistance from the US military to help government forces recover the lost land.
