Red Sea Crisis: A F Up of Epic Proportions
Qwenews.com – A f up of epic proportions is how one regional source described the rapid Houthi advance along Yemen’s western coast. In roughly 36 hours, Iran-backed Houthi forces captured the port city of Mocha and then Perim Island, raising fresh alarm over security near a crucial international shipping route.
The offensive has intensified criticism of Saudi Arabia and the United States, with Yemeni and regional figures arguing that air support was not provided in time. It has also highlighted deep divisions among the forces opposing the Houthis in Yemen.
Mocha Falls After Calls for Air Support
Yemeni military officials sought air cover on Thursday morning as Houthi forces advanced toward Mocha, according to a senior Yemeni military source. The source said the Houthis deployed large numbers of fighters, ballistic missiles and other weapons during the assault.
“The Houthis committed everything they had – waves upon waves of fighters … along with their available ballistic missiles and weapons.”
The source said US Central Command was contacted and officials indicated they were monitoring the situation while Saudi air support was expected. The support did not arrive before Mocha fell.
“But the air support never came. And Mocha has now fallen.”
By Friday, the Houthis had also taken Perim Island at the entrance to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The island’s location gives its controller a stronger position near one of the world’s most sensitive maritime passages.
Why Perim Island Matters for Shipping
Perim Island sits near the Bab al-Mandeb, the southern gateway to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal route. The strait remains essential for commercial trade and energy shipments, even though it is less central to global oil supplies than the Strait of Hormuz.
A f up of epic proportions at Mocha could therefore have consequences far beyond Yemen. Saudi Arabia has redirected some exports through the Red Sea route to avoid Hormuz, and increased Iranian influence around both waterways could fuel market concerns and pressure oil prices.
Amr Al-Bidh, a leading official in Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, said the Houthis would not need sophisticated weapons to interfere with maritime passage through the strait.
“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 waterway gives the Houthis leverage even without deploying advanced military systems.
Saudi Arabia and the US Face Blame
The loss of Mocha has sparked a bitter dispute over responsibility. One regional source said Yemeni forces should not receive all the blame, instead pointing to delayed decisions and political divisions in Riyadh.
“The failure this time is not with the Yemenis. It’s a disaster made in (Washington) DC and Riyadh.”
The source said Saudi support forces carried out no airstrikes on Thursday despite receiving frequent updates from the battlefield, describing the episode as a political failure. The source called it a Saudi-American f up of epic proportions.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke twice with President Donald Trump on Thursday and urged US military action against the Houthis, according to a person familiar with the discussions. Trump declined to intervene.
The White House said its priority was protecting core US national-security interests, including freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. It said the United States remained in contact with Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s internationally recognized government regarding regional stability.
Yemen’s Divided Anti-Houthi Coalition
Critics of the anti-Houthi camp say the absence of outside air support is only part of the explanation. Mohammed al-Basha, an adviser on Arabian Peninsula risks to US government and private-sector clients, said the coalition has long struggled with political disunity and the lack of an effective shared command structure.
That fragmentation has complicated efforts to defend territory against Houthi advances. The latest losses may deepen pressure on Yemen’s rival anti-Houthi factions to coordinate, while leaving the Houthis with greater leverage near the Red Sea.
FAQ: What Does the Houthi Advance Mean?
Why is Bab al-Mandeb important? The strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is a major route for commercial ships and energy cargoes traveling toward the Suez Canal.
What did the Houthis capture? Houthi forces captured Mocha, a historic Red Sea port in Yemen, and later Perim Island near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Why is the advance being called a f up of epic proportions? The phrase reflects criticism that expected Saudi and US-backed support did not stop the Houthi offensive before Mocha fell.