Houthis push to seize Red Sea coast

Yemen’s Houthi rebels are mounting a major push to seize the country’s Red Sea coast, claiming control of the key port of Mocha in the most serious fighting with the Saudi-backed government in years

Sep 8: Houthis attack four Saudi cities, wounding at least 73 and sparking fires at oil facilities. Rebels say strikes retaliation for recent Saudi attacks on Yemeni provinces of Marib, al-Bayda, Hodeida, Taiz and Jawf

Houthi control (as of Aug 2026)
Reported Houthi advances

Dhubab
Bayda
Jizan
King Khalid Airbase
Khamis Mushait
Abha
Najran
AL-BAYDA,
MARIB
HODEIDA
TAIZ JAWF
Saada
Taiz
Hodeida
Abs
Ibb
Dhamar
Sanaa
Mocha
Aden
Bab al-Mandab strait
DJIBOUTI
SOMALIA
ETHIOPIA
ERITREA
YEMEN
SAUDI ARABIA
GULF OF ADEN
RED SEA

100km
60 miles

IRAN
Strait of Hormuz
Detail

Sep10: Houthis seize Mocha, closing in on strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait; government forces relocate south to Dhubab

Hanish Islands: Under Houthi attack

Sources: Reuters, BBC, Institute for the Study of War
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